FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte asked if Davaoeños are still willing to accept him, adding, “Why fix things if there is no damage in the city under our leadership?”
“It hurts my heart to face you knowing that those barangay captains I worked with when I was Mayor for a long time are no longer here. Now, only a few remain, and they are all new. Those who replaced me are my children, so our unity continues. It’s not the same as before with politics, and it’s very hard to have unity in working in the government,” Duterte said in his message on Dec. 20 gathering with some barangay captains in the city.
“Now, it seems like we are going to work together again and you will accept me if the Dutertes are still here. I will be thankful,” he said.
“It’s like there’s no harm in a place where only one family is in charge of the politics. Is that right? But my question to you is if someone replaces us, that’s okay. Because politics is not for us. It’s about the sentiments and wishes of the people. That’s fine if you replace us. But my question is, if you don’t see anything wrong or bad in our political conduct, I just ask you not to replace us,” he said.
“Why fix it if it ain’t damaged? Nothing has been broken in our leadership and in how we’ve served you, so why cut us off? That’s all I ask. Our work has always been about service, serbisyong Duterte,” FPRRD said.
“The problem in handling Davao, maybe you’ve seen how we cared for the city,” he added.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, together with Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, joins the Paskomustahan 2024 Davao City Barangay Captains Christmas Party at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Davao City on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.
Also in attendance during the gathering were Davao City First District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte’s sons, Rigo and Omar, and 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab.
Screenshot photo of Rhoda Grace B Saron/ Cong Isidro Ungab
