VICE MAYOR Rodrigo Duterte II asked supporters to continue supporting the family for the 2028 elections, as he visited his great-grandparents’ grave at the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Davao City.
Duterte II paid respects to his great-grandparents, Vicente and Soledad Duterte, on All Souls’ Day, Nov. 2.
Speaking to reporters, he said he was visiting on behalf of his grandfather, who could not attend as the former president is in the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
After he offered prayers and candles at the resting place, the office of the Vice Mayor and the office of his father, Congressman Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, led the distribution of 1,000 food packs to residents of Barangay 8-A.
In his message, he talked about politics, particularly the 2028 elections, as Comelec will open the filing of certificates of candidacy in September 2027.
“Next year, mag filing naman pud, ako wa ko kabalo og mopadayon ba ko o unsa. Tan-awn nila kung gusto pa sila serbisyo sa Duterte, makita-kita sa 2028,” he said.
“Padayon lang pud mi, ‘no? Mag-serbisyo nila, mag-trabaho para sa ila. Og ganahan pa sila, naa ra na sa mga tawo. Naa ra na sa ilaha,” he added.
The annual gift-giving during Undas can be traced back to the late 1980s, during FPRRD’s early years as mayor of Davao City.
The vice mayor said the tradition of remembering departed family members while sharing food with the community will continue through the years, despite FPRRD’s absence.
Asked if the former president had a message for Davao residents, he said: “Don’t waste what he did for us. His work was for all of us.”
He added that FPRRD did everything for his country and his city during his term and cited that the family’s work would go on.
“Maskin gina tira mi karon, padayon lang mi, trabaho ra gihapon, si Mayor Baste, padayon ra ang serbisyo, masulti nako kung naa moy kinahanglan, naa ra among pamilya,” he said.
Barangay 8-A Chairman James Abadilla assisted Vice Mayor Rigo during the distribution.
