Duterte Thanked Cebuanos, But

Incoming Pres. Rodrigo Duterte met his paternal aunt, Dolores Duterte, 82, (to his right) at the backstage of SRP-Sugbu grounds after he delivered a thanksgiving speech to his supporters.

While thanking the Cebuanos for giving him more than a million votes during the May 9 polls, President elect Rodrigo Duterte minced no words that he will not also mind killing a Cebuano drug addict.

“Nagpanikad gyud ko nga makaduaw dinhi sa Cebu arun magpalasamat kay dinhi sa Cebu nakakuha ko ug makabungog nga boto…ug dinhi sa Cebu makapatay ko ug katapusang durugista ok na ko” the President elect said late Saturday night at the South Road Properties (SRP) Sugbu project grounds where a thanksgiving concert was held in his honor.

The President elect got about 1.4 million votes in Cebu City and Cebu province in the last elections adding to what is called “Solid South” because he won convincingly in the Visayas and Mindanao.

In his speech Duterte reiterated his pre-election campaign spin on combating the drug menace and criminality, curb corruption in government and on holding separate peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army (CPP-NPA) insurgents and the Muslims in Mindanao belonging to the Moro National Liberation Front( MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The President elect did not minced words on those involved in the illegal drug trade including police generals to which he earlier alleged that at least three are involved in the illicit business.

“Asta polis apil naa pay mga heneral, they have to go…this has to stop.”

On his anti-corruption campaign, the president elect promised to set-up telephone hotlines where people could call and report corrupt and abusive officials.

His campaign, he said, would be down to the barangays where he said government should see to it that signatories of official documents will not be plenty and thus should not intentionally delay it just to ask for bribe.

“Do not sit on the papers waiting for money,” the President elect stressed.

At the sidelines after his speech, Duterte met his paternal aunt on the backstage, Dolores Duterte, 82, from Danao City.

“Nalipay gyud ko nga nagkahangup mi, ako ang gama-tuto niya sa gamay pa siya,” Dolores told MetroCebu News (MCN) enthusiastically in an exclusive interview.

The event dubbed “One Love, One Nation #CAll4Change Thanksgiving Celebration,” was organized by the incoming President’s supporters in Cebu.

Event convenor Doris Isubal-Mongaya estimated the crowd to be at least 10,000. The activity would have start at 5pm but a downpour forced them to move it later. Duterte arrived past 10pm.

Cebuano internationally acclaimed singer Dulce were among the performers which also included vocalist Christofer Mendrez. The hosts were incoming Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro, Keanna Reeves and Arnel Ignacio.

The President elect earlier attended a wedding in Lapu-Lapu City before he proceeded to the thanksgiving activity.