Tough-talking Duterte reveals soft spot

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte talks tough but reveals a soft spot when he remembers his late mother. 

“She died four years ago and I miss her always,” he said when asked what makes him sad during a television interview late Sunday night.

Fondly called “Nanay Soleng” in Davao City, Soledad Duterte died on Feb. 4, 2012 at the age of 96.

Duterte was then the vice mayor of his daughter Sara.

Duterte said that he is afraid of God, who is omnipresent, and of karma, believing that a universal God will judge the people based on their deeds.

“I am not into religiosity, but I have always said that I have this deep and abiding faith in the universal act because I believe that there is a universal mind watching over us,” he said. “What you have done, what you sow, you will reap it.” 

Duterte said his son was his karma – already as stubborn as the mayor when Nanay Soleng was still alive.

It took him seven years to finish high school, he added.

On the eve of his proclamation rally in Tondo, Manila yesterday, Duterte assumed the chairmanship of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan of which he is the standard bearer.

The appointment of Duterte as chairman will re-invigorate PDP-Laban to heed the Filipino people’s clamor for genuine reforms and social transformation, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, party president, said in a statement.

“We expect Mayor Duterte to exercise bold leadership and wage war against crime, illegal drugs and corruption, work towards an inclusive economy through regional development and achieve equality under the law,” he said.

PDP-Laban is a coalition of Lakas ng Bayan party that Benigno Aquino Jr. founded in 1978, and the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino that Aquilino Pimentel Jr. set up in 1982.

PDP-Laban chairman emeritus Pimentel said Duterte will help restore the rule of law, which is a prerequisite for sustained economic growth and social development.

“With Mayor Duterte’s assumption as PDP-Laban chairman, he will now lead the campaign for a shift to a federal form of government which I have long advocated to solve the problem of uneven development due to the concentration of powers in Manila and lopsided distribution of national resources,” he said.

Paola Alvarez, PDP-Laban spokesperson, said Duterte is ready and willing to lead the party towards lasting and meaningful solutions to crime, corruption and poverty in the country.