“SON OF MAASIN AND SOUTHERN LEYTE” Duterte welcome “fit for a president”

by Chito A. Fuentes

MAASIN CITY – Southern Leyte’s welcome for Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was “fit for a president”.

“It’s just like we are welcoming the president,” said a policeman who braved the heat of the sun while waiting for Duterte to arrive. 

Admirers swarm all over Mayor Rodrigo Duterte after he alighted from the helicopter at the Maasin port. (CHITO A. FUENTES)

The “son of Maasin and Southern Leyte” walked into a rousing welcome in his birthplace.

Tarpaulin streamers with the words “Welcome Home!!!” were prominently displayed in strategic areas of the city.

In spite of the lavish expression of support for a possible presidential bid in the land of his birth, Duterte refused to be carried away.

Duterte arrived by helicopter at the Maasin port where he was met by government officials led by Gov. Roger Mercado, Rep. Damian Mercado and Maayor Maloney Samaco.

Also on hand to welcome the mayor were members of the Roa clan, Karancho motorcycle club members and political supporters.

Duterte was ushered by a motorcade to the Maasin City Hall where he spoke before incumbent and past barangay captains from the city’s 70 barangays.

Along the way, curious residents lined the road eager to catch a glimpse of Duterte.

In his talk before the barangay captains, Duterte insisted that he is going around only because of his advocacy for federalism. 

‘I am just raising the awareness for a federal state,’ Duterte declared in two different venues where he spoke Sunday.

Duterte noted that President Benigno Aquino III, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Teresita Deles and Moro Islamic Liberation Front leader Al-Haj Murad have all warned against violence if the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) fails.

“Why am I so passionate about this thing?” he asked.

He proceeded to answer his own question emphatically.

“Because Mindanao and Davao City will be the battleground,” he added.

Duterte said that if there is anybody who does not want trouble in Mindanao, “it is me!”

The mayor lamented, however, that “no one seems to be minding the store”.

“I have yet to hear an official of this government who would offer a word on what we will do (in case violence breaks down),” he added.

When their turn to speak came, Gov. Mercado, Rep. Mercado and Samaco all expressed their support to whatever decision Duterte will make in the future. 

The mayor took a quick lunch at the city council session hall hosted by Gov. Mercado which was attended by Southern Leyte mayors. 

From there, Duterte proceeded to the Laboon Barangay gym to address the fourth Roa Clan grand reunion. He was joined by the three top officials until his last stop.

The mayor’s mother, Soledad Roa-Duterte, was a member of the clan which forms the majority of Barangay Laboon.

After his talk, Duterte briefly visited Laboon Elementary School where four of his primary school classmates were waiting.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (middle) poses with his primary classmates (left to right) Leonila Faelnar, Constancia Magaran-Ortega, Magdalena Antoc-Francisco and Paterno Jacobe at the Laboon Elementary School grounds. (CHITO A. FUENTES)

The mayor recalled that he stayed with his grandmother for a year in Laboon which explained his brief stint at the school.

The four – Constancia Magaran-Ortega, Magdalena Antoc-Francisco, Leonila Faelnar and Paterno Jacobe – welcomed him with leis after he entered the school gate.

For a brief moment, the five who briefly shared a common bond more than six decades ago stared at each other speechless before Duterte recovered his bearings and started to converse with his former classmates.

“You go to Davao. I will spend for your fare and accommodation there,” he told them.

The four stared briefly at the mayor, unsure if they heard it right before clapping their hands to express their appreciation for Duterte’s offer.

By the time the mayor headed back for Cebu, many people in Maasin and Southern Leyte said they know whom they will vote for president in next year’s polls.

It seems they have already made up their minds, even before Duterte could even make his. (CHITO A. FUENTES) 

IN MAASIN Duterte back home on Mother’s Day

Welcome streamer of the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte
at the Port of Maasin (Photo by Chito A. Fuentes)

by Chito A. Fuentes

MAASIN CITY – The signs say it all: Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is home in his birthplace on Mother’s Day.

Few people know that Duterte, the rising political star of Mindanao, was born on March 28, 1945 in Maasin, Southern Leyte 

The welcome streamers announcing Duterte’s arrival put up by both the provincial and city governments, however, are making people aware of that important detail in the mayor’s life.

“Welcome Home!!!” tarpaulin streamers with Duterte’s name and face hanging across the Maasin port, city hall and other strategic areas in the city now herald the arrival of one of its sons.

Duterte is slated to arrive in Maasin on May 10 as the guest of honor of the 4^th Roa Clan reunion in Barangay Laboon. 

“Definitely, we will welcome him,” said Gov. Roger Mercado when he was informed of Duterte’s arrival.

Mercado said Southern Leyte is eager to welcome Duterte for at least two reasons.

“First, (Duterte) is proud to say that he is from Maasin, unlike some people who no longer admit their roots when they have become popular,” the governor said.

Aside from this, Mercado said Duterte sympathized with Southern Leyte in the aftermath of typhoon “Yolanda” when it struck in many parts of the Visayas more than a year ago.

“He personally visited us and handed out a donation of P3-million,” the governor added.

Duterte was the first local official outside the Visayas who arrived at ground zero after Yolanda exited.

Immediately after his arrival, Duterte will proceed to the Maasin City Hall for lunch hosted by the governor attended by provincial and city officials.

Duterte will also take time to meet with government officials at the Maasin gym courtesy of Mayor Maloney Samaco.

The mayor is also slated to meet briefly with four of his elementary grade classmates at the Laboon Elementary School.

Barangay Capt. Norma Adobas said barangay officials have requested for photo-ops with the mayor.

Duterte will address the Roa clan reunion at the Laboon barangay gym to cap his Maasin visit.

Relatives of the mayor’s mother, Soledad Roa-Duterte, form the majority of the residents of Laboon.

He arrives in Maasin a day after addressing another Roa clan reunion in Cagayan de Oro City.  

Duterte has always been proud of his Maasin roots.

“It is the land of my birth. It is the home of my people,” the mayor declared when he arrived in Maasin to extend help to the victims of typhoon Yolanda.

Few people were aware of it then because Duterte has always downplayed his acts of kindness in times of calamities.

The mayor, however, can no longer prevent people from rolling out the red carpet when he arrives in Maasin on Sunday.

After all, the son who made good is coming home to the land of his mother on Mother’s Day. (CHITO A. FUENTES)     

CAGAYAN, MAASIN REUNIONS Duterte drawing support of relatives from all over

by Chito A. Fuentes

MAASIN CITY – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte continues to draw support from relatives in different parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

The Davao mayor, considered by many as an “undeclared” presidential contender, will visit Cagayan de Oro Saturday before swinging to Maasin Sunday as guest speaker of different chapters of the Roa clan.

Duterte’s mother, Soledad, a school teacher born in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Sur, belongs to the influential Roa clan that has members in different parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

On May 9, Duterte will speak before Roa clan members from northern Mindanao at the Xavier Estates Clubhouse.

He will also be the guest of the Rotary District Convention 3870 led by Gov. Manuel Along at the Pryce Hotel.

From there, Duterte will fly to Maasin, Southern Leyte to speak before another gathering of the Roa clan in Leyte.

This is a sentimental journey of sorts for the Davao mayor who spent his primary years in Barangay Laboon where the majority of the residents are Roa clan members.

Local officials are also expected to roll out the red carpet for their now-prominent town mate who is gaining ground as a presidential timber after surprisingly coming in third in two separate surveys last March.

Duterte tied for third with Manila Mayor Erap Estrada in the Pulse Asia survey and with Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas in the Social Weather Stations poll.

While many politicians are still hesitant to come out and express their support for Duterte, his relatives are coming out in droves for him.

Members of the Saligumba clan in Tagbilaran joined the Duterte and Roa clans during his visit in the Bohol capital.

He was also welcomed by the Roa clans in Ozamiz and Valencia, Bukidnon, the Samporna clan in Iligan City and the Dutertes in Pagadian.

Last March, the influential Veloso clan held a reunion in Cebu City which was attended by the Petillas of Leyte including resigned Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla and the clan matriarch, Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla.

Also present were Danny Javier of the Apo Hiking Society and his brother, Javier Mayor Sandy Javier, Siquijor Vice Gov. Dingdong Avanzado, among many others.

While the reunion did not explicitly mean the clan’s endorsement for Duterte, it opened communication lines at the very least.

Duterte’s father, former Davao Gov. Vicente Duterte, was mayor of Danao City in Cebu before the family migrated to Davao. 

The elder Duterte, the last governor of undivided Davao, also served briefly as Cabinet secretary.

Duterte continues to resist calls for him to run but so far the clamor has not subsided. 

Whatever his political plans, one thing Duterte has seen so far is the outpouring of support from his relatives on both his paternal and maternal sides. (CHITO A. FUENTES)