The Powerful Man in the Philippines

Before Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte take his oath as the 16th president of the philippines, let's take time to get to know more about Mayor Duterte.

Dubbed as the " Duterte Harry" of Davao City, Rodrigo Duterte was born on March 28, 1945, in Maasin City, Southern Leyte, Philippines to Vicente G. Duterte and Soledad "Soleng" Roa-Duterte. The family shifted to Davao in 1951. Duterte's father was a civic leader and a school teacher.

Rodrigo Duterte family picture

During his childhood, Mayor Duterte was considered a "problem child" by his parent.
According to legend, the Davao mayor flew a small plane above his neighbourhood
without his parents' consent when he was 14-years old. His father exiled him to high
school 57 kilometers from Davao after knowing the news that his son got kicked out from
ateneo De Davao High School.

After earning his school diploma, Rody Duterte went to Lyceum of the Philippines
and continued his study in law in San Beda College and passed the bar exam shortly after
his graduation. The Davao mayor had a formal flying training in college.

From 1977 to 1986, Mayor Rody served as Davao City prosecutor. after the first people
power revolution, President Corazon Aquino appointed Duterte vice mayor (officer-in-
charge) of Davao City from 1986 to 1987. Later that year, Duterte was elected city mayor of
Davao City. Before his term, Davao City was tagged as the "Nicaragua of Asia". During his
first term, Mayor Rody successfully restored the peace and order in Davao City.

On his third term as the mayor of Davao City, Mayor Rody went down from the position in
1998 to 2001, In 2001, he again regained the position which counted to be is 4th term in
service. that time he focused on suppresing the crime and caring for the poor and environment.

With Mayor Rody's effective leadership, he has become the standard of many local leaders
including former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who said in her public address during
the "Araw ng Dabaw" in 2004:

"The Philippines is just catching up with Davao City, which seems to be always leading the
way for the rest of the country. My performance in governance is good because I follow
the example and the advice of your Mayor Duterte"

Rodrigo "Rody" Roa Duterte also known as Digong, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who is the 16th and current President of the Philippines. He is the first Mindanaoan to hold the office, and the fourth of Visayan descent.