Duterte expected in Cebu today for thanksgiving party

CEBU, Philippines - There will be two thanksgiving parties for incoming President Rodrigo Duterte in Cebu.

The parties were separately organized by the groups campaigning for him in the last elections.

One party where Duterte's presence has been confirmed is happening today at the Cebu Country Club.

It was organized by Bisaya Napud Movement.

"Confirmed, moanhi si Duterte ugma (today)," said Jonjie Gonzales, co-founder of the movement together with businessman Michael Lloyd Dino.

Dino was named Presidential Assistant for the Visayas under the Duterte administration.

Gonzales said the event will be strictly private and no media coverage is allowed. Duterte earlier said that he will no longer grant media interviews nor hold press conferences until his term ends.

The decision came following a call from Paris-based Reporters without Boarders for the Philippine media to boycott the incoming president because of his statement on the media killings.

Duterte's statement elicited negative reactions from various media groups because it was interpreted as a tacit approval to kill, especially "corrupt journalists."

The boycott call, however, was not heeded by the Philippine media. Instead, Duterte decided to boycott the media.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Alliance for Change is also organizing a separate thanksgiving party on June 25.

Doris Mongaya, Visayas media coordinator of the Duterte Campaign Team and member of the One Love, One Nation Cebu organizing team, said the party may be held at the South Road Properties.

She said it will be open to all supporters who have helped in the campaign.

Mongaya said it was the Cebu for Duterte, Let's Do it! and other groups  that had been working so hard to ensure Duterte's victory.

"We campaign so hard for him. Daghan mga Cebuanos voted for him, so angayan nga pasalamatan gyud sila," Mongaya said. — /FPL (FREEMAN)