Liza Panal, 61 is among those who waited for President Rodrigo Duterte outside his parents’ tomb at the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Davao City on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Panal, an informal settler in Lower Madapo, Barangay 5-A told Davao Today that they wish to talk to the President about the case of the area which he promised to buy when he was still city mayor. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Supporters milled and waited around the tomb of the father of President Rodrigo Duterte, hoping to get a chance to talk to the former city mayor, despite the announcement that his visit to the cemetery on Tuesday night was cancelled.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said Duterte is set to visit the Roman Catholic Cemetery here where the remains of his father, former Governor Vicente Duterte and mother Soledad, lie.
But the heavy rain late afternoon affected the scheduled visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to his parents’ tomb.
Around 6:00 pm Tuesday, a staff of the Media Accreditation and Relations Office announced the call off of the scheduled visit to the members of the press waiting at the Roman Catholic Cemetery. The staff said the message came from Go.
Among those waiting were senior citizens Liza Panal, 61 and Dolores Bello, 64, who are settlers in Lower Madapo Hills, Barangay 5-A, Bankerohan.
Panal said they are waiting for the President since 2 p.m. to follow-up the status of the land where there are more than a thousand residents. She said they settled in the area since 2004 and they are hoping Duterte will buy the lot as what he promised when he was still mayor.
“He promised that he would buy the land so we can live there,” Panal said.
She said since Duterte became President, it was hard for them to talk to him.
“It’s expensive for us to go to Manila, but now is our chance. We will wait for him and we will find a way to talk to him,” he said.
Lucena Bargamento-Polache, 76, is an avid supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte and the owner of the popular restaurant Luz Kinilaw Place in Davao City. She was among those who waited for the President’s visit at the cemetery. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
Resto owner
Aside from the settlers, the owner of the popular Luz Kinilaw Place, also waited for the President Duterte to see him for the first time since he won the Presidency.
Lucena Polache, 76 said they waited for Duterte since 3 p.m.
Polache said she also brought flowers for Nanay Soling, which was her practice ever since the Duterte matriarch passed away. Polache, Duterte’s long time supporter, said she brings flowers for Nanay Soling every year during her birthday and All Saints’ Day.
Polache said she often sees former mayor Duterte at the tomb during November 14, the birthday anniversary of Nanay Soling.
“Now that he’s President, I haven’t got the chance to see him,” she said.
As of press time, there was no exact time when the President would visit the cemetery. (davaotoday.com)
