Guest of Honor and Speaker's Profile

Honorable Rodrigo R. Duterte, Davao City Mayor

Our guest of honor was born on March 28, 1945 in Maasin, Southern Leyte, the son of lawyer Vicente Duterte of Danao, Cebu and Soledad Roa of Cabadbaran in Agusan. His father was then a practicing lawyer, while his mother was a public school teacher. He finished his elementary and secondary education in Davao City where his father became the last elected Governor of the undivided Davao Province, now comprising of the provinces of Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental and Compostela Valley. Our guest of honor is now the Chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council comprising these same provinces.

He is a lawyer by profession having graduated from the San Beda College of Law. He became a City Prosecutor in Davao City for ten years, earning a tough reputation for his spirited and no-nonsense prosecution of criminals and lawbreakers. He was appointed OIC-Vice Mayor in 1986 by President Cory Aquino thus launching his unblemished political career, City Mayor from 1988-1998; Congressman in 1998 to 2001; City Mayor for a second three terms in 2001-2010; City Vice Mayor in 2010-2013; and again, he is now serving the first term of what could be another three terms, unless Providence and the Filipino people assigns him to greater responsibilities.

He made peace and security the centerpiece of his program of government. He transformed Davao City from being a troubled city to being one of the safest cities in the world. His plans and programs are anchored on addressing the needs of his constituents, the reason for the unflinching loyalty of Dabawenos to our guest speaker as their Leader. Aside from being the Most Peaceful City, Davao City is now the Most Livable City in the country; the Most Child Friendly City; the National Awardee for the Best Literacy Program; The Cleanest and Greenest Highly Urbanized City; and the most investor friendly city. All these things became possible under the determined and exemplary leadership of our guest of honor. Our guest of honor is of the strong belief that given the opportunity and resources, all local governments can do what has been accomplished in Davao City.

Our guest of honor is an accomplished man of humble beginnings. With the blessings of The Almighty, may he see the light and lead our country.