Rodrigo ( Rody ) Duterte

Rodrigo Roa Duterte was born on March 28, 1945 at Maasin, Southern Leyte to Vicente G. Duterte, who served as Governor of Davao and Soledad Roa, a school teacher and a civic leader.He spent his elementary days at the Sta. Ana Elementary School in Davao City, where he graduated in 1956. He finished his secondary education at the Holy Cross of Digos. For his tertiary education, he took up a Bachelor of Arts degree at the Lyceum of the Philippines University, where he graduated in 1968. He also obtained a law degree from San Beda College in 1972. In the same year, he passed the bar exam.

Soledad R. Duterte is the mother of the present Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and widow of the late Vicente Duterte who served as Provincial Governor from 1959 to 1965. Mrs. Duterte was born on November 14, 1916 in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte to Eleno Roa and Fortunata Gonzales. She finished her elementary and secondary education in her native town. She pursued her college education at the Philippine Normal School in Manila in 1939. She was connected with the Bureau of Public Schools as a teacher when she met and married lawyer Vicente Duterte of Cebu. The Dutertes came to Davao in 1951. Vicente as a lawyer engaged in private – practice, while Soledad as a teacher taught in the public school. Mrs. Duterte, however, but retired as a supervisor in 1952 when her lawyer – husband joined politics. She left government service owing to the demands of a politician – husband. As wife of the governor, she became familiar with the social and economic problems of the people, especially the out – of – school youth, women, children and the disabled.

After the 1986 People Power Revolution, Duterte was appointed officer – in – charge vice mayor. In 1988, he ran for mayor and won, serving until 1998. He set a precedent by designating deputy mayors that represented the Lumad and Moro in the city government, which was later copied in other parts of the country. In 1998, because he was term – limited to run again for mayor, he ran for the House of Representatives and won as Congressman of the 1st District of Davao City. In 2001, he ran again for mayor in Davao and was again elected for his fourth term. He was reelected in 2004 and in 2007. In 2010, he was elected vice mayor, succeeding his daughter, Sara Duterte – Carpio, who was elected as mayor.

Davao City under Duterte won the National Literacy Hall of Fame Award for being a three – time first place winner in the Outstanding Local Government Unit Highly Urbanized City category. Through the support of Duterte, the City Council amended the ordinance no. 1627, Series of 1994, which imposed a prohibition on selling, serving, drinking and consumption of liquors and alcoholic beverages from 1:00 am until 8:00 am. Executive Order no. 39 was signed by Duterte, setting the speed limits for all kinds of motor vehicles within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City in the interest of public safety and order. The City Government of Davao acquired 10 more ambulances for central 911 intended for medical emergencies and 42 new mobile patrol vehicles and motorcycles for the Davao City and Police Office. Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, through E.O no. 24, ordered all shopping malls and commercial centers to install, operate and maintain high end and high definition closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all entrance and exit points of their premises. Davao City sent rescue and medical teams to Tacloban to give aid to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). Financial assistance was also given to Bohol and Cebu for the earthquake victims.

As of January 2015, Duterte has made hints to the media of his possible intent to run for the presidency come 2016, with the promise of abolishing Congress altogether (and replacing it with a federal – parliamentary form of governance) if he ever wins. In the most recent survey from Pulse Asia and SWS Survey, Rody Duterte placed a surprising third place behind Vice President Binay and Senator Grace Poe. It was the first time his name has been included in the survey on people’s preference for President, and a very promising indicator that people all over the Philippines are clamoring for Duterte to run for the 2016 presidential election.

Rody Duterte Inaugural Speech (Rizal Park, Davao, 28 June 2013)

Fellow Dabawenyos, distinguished guests, fellow workers, friends, ladies and gentlemen:

No leader can achieve much without the support of the people he is sworn to serve. Many things have been said and written about our city – its phenomenal growth, its natural beauty and its transformation from a crime – ridden community decades ago into a bustling metropolis oozing with development and potential. High – rise buildings are changing the skyline of Davao City. Malls are sprouting everywhere.

Several decades have passed since I took my oath of office for the first of many times as Mayor of the city and let me now say with a deep sense of gratitude that whatever gains and awards we amassed would never have been ours were it not for the support and ooperation that you – the people – gave the city’s leadership. Our Firecracker Ban, Anti-smoking and curfew ordinances would not have created an mpact without your cooperation. That is why I always say that the most valuable asset that Davao City has been gifted with, is not its flora and fauna, nor its fertile fields nor its pristine water nor its abundant natural resources but its people.

Davao City is what it is today because of you – because you cared, because you shared. You were one with us in the city government as we travelled every zig and zag of very road and every by – way in pursuit of our city’s vision, mission and goals. You were there during times of calamities, both natural and man – made, to help us without being asked. The gravity of the problems spawned by these disasters did not deter us, because you were there to lighten the burden, fortify our grit, strengthen our resolve and lift our spirit.

Today, as I take my oath of office as City Mayor for the seventh time, I ask you to join me in sustaining not only this government of the people, by the people and for the people but also in creating a government for the least, the last and the lost.

There will be no let – up in our fight against all forms of criminality. As a matter of policy, we will intensify our efforts in this campaign. I have said it before, I will say it again: Criminals have no place in our city except in our jails, detention cells and God forbid, in our funeral parlors should these criminals decide to fight it out with the authorities.

To the drug pushers, drug dealers, drug suppliers and perpetrators of heinous crimes, I say again: STOP or LEAVEif you cannot or will not, otherwise you will regret it. Worse still, you may not survive to regret it at all. The clock is ticking away the hours for you. You can leave either vertically or horizontally. It is up to you. If you fight, the day ends permanently for you.

To the children – in – conflict with the law who have made bloody fights and bloody riots nightly occurrences, do not waste away your lives. The provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 behind which you seek refuge to exempt yourself from accountability for committing an act which, ordinarily, is a crime if committed by an adult, is undergoing amendment. Do not wait for that to happen. Mend your ways now. It will be for your own, and your family’s, good.

Everyone knows that the frequent flooding in low – lying areas that we have been experiencing of late is due to climate change. Everyone knows, too, that we cannot fight, much less prevail over nature. Indeed no one can.