MANILA - (UPDATED) Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio led Monday the launch of "Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines," consisting of groups that supported her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, during the 2016 presidential elections.

In a speech before hundreds of red-clad supporters, the mayor said the Chief Executive may be "very imperfect" but the public needs to rally behind him to achieve the change he promised.

"Our president is human, very very imperfect, but he is a wrangler, and we only have six years to take that warrior spirit, s'ya ang gagamitin natin to create a better future for our country" Duterte Carpio said the Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City.

"I call on supporters of President Duterte to unite. Let us set aside personal politics that has torn our country every time we have a new president."

Mayor Sara Duterte: Let us set aside personal politics that has torn our country everytime we have a new president. pic.twitter.com/mcFYAaDOtE

— Ron Gagalac (@rongagalac) October 23, 2017

Duterte-Carpio said the alliance was not a show of force against cause-oriented group Tindig Pilipinas, which has criticized the killings under the administration's anti-narcotics crackdown.

"In fact, we are asking them to join us, this is a call for support for our country, let us turn this country around and do everything for the Filipino," she told reporters.

"Kung ayaw makipag-alyansa, gumawa ka na lang ng positive for your country and not against your fellow Filipinos."

NOT A POLITICAL MACHINE

Public Works Undersecretary Karen Jimeno, a member of Tapang at Malasakit claimed the organization was not funded by the government and was simply a group that seeks to solve the country's problems like "fake news."

"Kanya-kanyang gastos dito, walang binayad ang government, walang tax payers' money, kusa lang. Whether you voted for President Duterte or not, this is for the Philippines," Jimeno said.

"If there are activities like spreading fake news, hitting other people below the belt, that is not the alliance, we will not support those activities."

Duterte-Carpio also said she would not use the alliance for her political plans, which may involve running for the House of Representatives in 2019.

Among those who joined the launch were Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife Taguig Mayor Lani Cayertano, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Francis Tolentino.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada among political personalities who joined the launching of Tapang at Malasakit. pic.twitter.com/XjVKRWjwVV

— Ron Gagalac (@rongagalac) October 23, 2017

With Zandro Ochona and Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News