by Chito A. Fuentes
MAASIN CITY – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte continues to draw support from relatives in different parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.
The Davao mayor, considered by many as an “undeclared” presidential contender, will visit Cagayan de Oro Saturday before swinging to Maasin Sunday as guest speaker of different chapters of the Roa clan.
Duterte’s mother, Soledad, a school teacher born in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Sur, belongs to the influential Roa clan that has members in different parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.
On May 9, Duterte will speak before Roa clan members from northern Mindanao at the Xavier Estates Clubhouse.
He will also be the guest of the Rotary District Convention 3870 led by Gov. Manuel Along at the Pryce Hotel.
From there, Duterte will fly to Maasin, Southern Leyte to speak before another gathering of the Roa clan in Leyte.
This is a sentimental journey of sorts for the Davao mayor who spent his primary years in Barangay Laboon where the majority of the residents are Roa clan members.
Local officials are also expected to roll out the red carpet for their now-prominent town mate who is gaining ground as a presidential timber after surprisingly coming in third in two separate surveys last March.
Duterte tied for third with Manila Mayor Erap Estrada in the Pulse Asia survey and with Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas in the Social Weather Stations poll.
While many politicians are still hesitant to come out and express their support for Duterte, his relatives are coming out in droves for him.
Members of the Saligumba clan in Tagbilaran joined the Duterte and Roa clans during his visit in the Bohol capital.
He was also welcomed by the Roa clans in Ozamiz and Valencia, Bukidnon, the Samporna clan in Iligan City and the Dutertes in Pagadian.
Last March, the influential Veloso clan held a reunion in Cebu City which was attended by the Petillas of Leyte including resigned Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla and the clan matriarch, Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla.
Also present were Danny Javier of the Apo Hiking Society and his brother, Javier Mayor Sandy Javier, Siquijor Vice Gov. Dingdong Avanzado, among many others.
While the reunion did not explicitly mean the clan’s endorsement for Duterte, it opened communication lines at the very least.
Duterte’s father, former Davao Gov. Vicente Duterte, was mayor of Danao City in Cebu before the family migrated to Davao.
The elder Duterte, the last governor of undivided Davao, also served briefly as Cabinet secretary.
Duterte continues to resist calls for him to run but so far the clamor has not subsided.
Whatever his political plans, one thing Duterte has seen so far is the outpouring of support from his relatives on both his paternal and maternal sides. (CHITO A. FUENTES)
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