Listening Tour DUTERTE MAKES SENTIMENTAL VISIT TO BIRTHPLACE BEFORE BIRTHDAY

By Manny Piñol

Ormoc, Southern Leyte – Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte visits Southern Leyte Monday, March 9, not only to continue his nation-wide “Listening Tour” on his Federalism advocacy but also to make a sentimental journey back to his province of birth a few days before turning 70 years old.

It will also be the first visit to Southern Leyte by the colorful and controversial Davao City Mayor, who is now touted as one of the leading presidential contenders, since the Super Typhoon Yolanda ravaged and killed thousands of people in his home province.

Duterte was among the first local government officials to come to the succor of the badly devastated Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces and delivered food and financial help amounting to almost P10-M, a huge chunk of which went to his birthplace, Maasin town.

Relief and rescue teams, composed of the highly trained rescuers and paramedics who belong to the 911 Emergency Rescue Services of Davao City arrived in Tacloban City and other areas of the province well ahead of the other teams.

Duterte’s Davao City rescuers brought with them food and medicines which were distributed to the typhoon victims in packets simply marked: “You are not forgotten. From the people of Davao City.”

“God was somewhere else when Yolanda hit the Visayas,” Duterte was quoted as saying when he saw the extent of destruction of the world’s most powerful typhoon which left a swathe of devastation killings thousands when it hit the region on Nov. 13, 2013.

It was one of the rare times, too, that the very emotional Duterte, a very private person who keeps his feelings to himself, was seen crying in public.

The last time the people of Davao saw a weeping Duterte was when his mother, street parliamentarian and retired public school teacher, Soledad Roa Duterte, died.

While Duterte’s visit to Ormoc City is officially called “Federalism Forum” and a continuation of his nation-wide “Listening Tour” to advocate for a change in the system of government from Unitry Presidential to Federal Parliamentary, he is also expected to visit his birthplace and other areas of the province affected by the super typhoon over a year ago.

In Ormoc City, rival political clans have reportedly expressed the desire to host the province’s most popular and favorite son, momentarily setting aside their local political differences.

Duterte will talk about Federalism and emphasize the need to effect “institutional changes” to address corruption, criminality and other major problems stunting the growth of the country, especially the Bangsamoro issue.

From Ormoc, Duterte and his Federalism team will fly to Bacolod City on March 13 and then later to Ozamis City in the Mindanao.

Duterte has already visited several areas in the country including Palawan, Baguio City, Dapugan City, Cebu City, Zamboanga City,. Cabanatuan City, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and attended several speaking engagements in Metro Manila.

(Photo credit: Sunstar photo shows Duterte in prayer with the rescue team shortly before it was dispatched to Leyte; victims of the typhoon in a photo of twoages.com)