Duterte to Cebu voters good you chose me

CEBU, Philippines – Heavy downpour did not dampen the spirits of supporters of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte who came for his "One Love, One Nation" Thanksgiving Party at the Sugbu Grounds in the South Road Properties last night and waited for hours for him to arrive and address them.

Duterte again extended his thanks to Cebuanos for giving him the votes needed to get the presidential mandate as he continued to remind everyone especially those who are hooked on drugs to shun harmful substances.

"Ang makabungog nga boto gikan sa Cebu," said Duterte in his speech that lasted less than an hour.

Duterte also emphasized the gravity of the drug problem in the country.

"A sachet of drugs can create a monstrous problem in our country, mayra g’yud ako ang inyong gipili nga pagka-presidente," said Duterte to the cheers and applause of the crowd.

The incoming president added that he wants more investors to invest in the Philippines, which is why he wants to make it safer.

"Ang pag-asa nato ng  mosulod ang mga investments. Pero para mosulod g’yud sila, I have to make this country peaceful," he added.

Duterte also promised that under his administration, there will be no more queuing in all government offices like the Land Transportation Office, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

He also said that he will put up 12 telephone hotlines manned 24/7 for the public to report any form of corruption especially at the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

In his short speech after Duterte spoke, Duterte’s running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, said that he did not lose as vice president because Duterte won as president.

"Hindi ako natalo dahil nanalo si Mayor. Tutulungan natin siya," the senator said.

Duterte did not stay long after his speech and immediately left the venue.

Hours Of Waiting

Duterte's private plane touched down at the Mactan Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City at 5:05 p.m., but the president-elect had other affairs to attend to also. After his arrival he proceeded to the Shangri La Resort and Spa in the same city to attend the wedding of Cebuano businessman Ding Borja's daughter.

Noted politicians who attended the wedding included Senator Cynthia Villar, her husband former Senate President Manuel Villar, and their son Las Piñas representative, and incoming secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Mark Villar. Cayetano was also in attendance.

The thanksgiving party was hosted by Kat de Castro, the incoming undersecretary of the Department of Tourism and TV host Arnel Ignacio.

Local bands and personalities graced the said event including Cebuana singer Dulce, actress Keana Reeves, Eat Bulaga's ‘That's My Bae’ and Cebu's Power Trio.

According to media coordinator Doris Mongaya, they expected some 50,000 supporters to join event, but according to Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, overall supervising officer from PRO-7 for the event, the crowd as of 9 p.m. was only between 2,500 to 3,000.

Supporters Brave The Rain

Supporters did not mind wading through flooded parts of the venue just to be able to see and hear the incoming president.

Supporters without specially-issued identification cards were not allowed to go near the stage where plastic chairs awaited them. These IDs were issued to the ones who campaigned hard to ensure Duterte's victory in Cebu, like the Cebu for Duterte group which has been renamed to the Alliance for Change.

Those without these IDs have to stay in the standing area, but some were ready with their own chairs and even brought their own food and drinks.

Some of the supporters arrived as early as noon and got drenched when a heavy downfall poured around 4 p.m. The downpour itself delayed the opening of the program by two hours.

Duterte himself did not take the stage until almost 11 p.m.

The site is adjacent to the venue of the culmination Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress last January which had accommodated thousands of Catholic devotees.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of Cebuanos flocked to the Halad Pasalamat ni Mayor Digong at the Plaza Independencia in Cebu City, to avail of various government services, including medical, dental, and legal services, among others. –With Dale G. Israel/BRP (FREEMAN)