With just four days to go before formally assuming office as the 16th president of the Philippines Thursday, outgoing Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is set to attend today’s flag-raising ceremony to bid goodbye to City Hall workers.
For 22 years, Duterte served as mayor and vice mayor (one term) of Davao City. He was also congressman for one term.
Duterte normally attends flag ceremonies on special occasions during his term as mayor but leaves the day-to-day routine of the city hall to his city administrator, Melchor Quitain, or the chief of staff.
Quitain and some department heads have been preparing for today’s flag-raising ceremony, even refurbishing the Osmeña Park and repainting the Durian Fountain.
For two nine-year terms, Duterte holds office every Wednesday to see people visiting his office seeking assistance and attends to courtesy visits. He sometimes holds meetings with department heads in complete attendance or separately if he wants to have a quick-fix of a problem.
With the right connections, model Mocha Uson was granted a face-to-face inteview with Duterte less than a week before his inauguration.
She posted the interview on her Facebook page, MOCHA USON BLOG, and shared her experience.
“It was a very humbling experience. Napakahaba ng pila, mahigit 5 hours ang paghihintay, mayaman man o mahirap, pantay pantay ang pagdadaanan at WALANG VIP treatment,” Uson wrote.
Uson presented a summary of common Filipino concerns she got from a survey conducted through her blog.
“Marami pong inaapi ng government agencies,” she said. “Halimbawa, matagal na pong empleyado ‘yung mga magulang nila pero after so many years, wala pa rin pong benefits,” Uson said.
As she finished, Duterte put everything simply as “crime and corruption.” He then proceeded with his plan to push for the return of the death penalty.
“It’s Congress who can re-impose the death penalty, but I’m asking for it because it is needed by the times,” he said. Duterte read the list, re-assuring concerns on drugs and corruption have been noted. (PNA and Armin Amio)
