The Osmeñas and Dutertes of Cebu

The Grand Old Man of Cebu, Don Sergio Suico Osmeña Sr. was the political benefactor of the Duterte Clan. The first post-war beneficiary of President Sergio Osmeña in the Duterte Clan was Vicente Gonzales Duterte (born November 23, 1911) who was appointed acting mayor of Danao, Cebu, on January 4, 1946. His vice mayor was Luis Almendras. The political tide changed when Don Sergio was defeated in the April 23, 1946 presidential election by Senator Manuel Roxas. When his adversaries Pedro Sepulveda Aniceto Gonzales were appointed as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, by President Roxas on July 5, 1947, the young lawyer, Vicente, left Danao for Davao.

Vicente, who married Soledad Roa, was in Maasin, Leyte, during World War II and had a son by the name of Rodrigo (born March 28, 1945 and became a lawyer on January 20, 1973) born there. It was in Davao where the political career of Vicente, who became a lawyer on February 27, 1940, was resurrected. A childhood friend and relative, Davao Governor Alejandro “Landring” Almendras, a Visayan World War II hero, ran for the Senate backed him as his replacement. Vicente Duterte was then appointed Governor of Davao on April 24, 1958. Alejandro Almendras (born on February 27, 1919), the “Father of Davao” was the son of Paulo Almendras and Elisea Mercado Durano.

Vicente was the son of Facundo Buot Duterte and Zoila Gonzales. The elder brother of Vicente, Ramon, was born on December 23, 1901 was also an Osmenista just like Vicente. Ramon (who became a lawyer on December 31, 1925) became the running mate of the son of Don Sergio, Serging in the 1955 election. Sergio “Sergio” Chiong Veloso Osmeña Jr. ran for mayor and Atty. Ramon Duterte as vice mayor, Osmeña and his entire slate won, with Ramon becoming the first elected Cebu City vice mayor.

Ramon G. Duterte became Cebu City mayor when Serging resigned to run for Congress in 1957, his official term as mayor was September 13, 1957 to December 31, 1959. A son of Ramon, Ronald, also became a lawyer and was elected Cebu City Councilor in 1964 with Sergio “Serging” Osmeña Jr. as mayor. The vice mayor was Atty. Carlos J. Cuizon and the fellow councilors of Ronald Duterte all belonged to the Osmeña’s political group: Atty. Luis V. Diores, John R. Osmeña, Engr. Eulogio E. Borres (it was during his term as mayor when a street in Guadalupe was named after Ramon Duterte), Mario R. Veloso, Atty. Florencio S. Urot, Raymundo A. Crystal, Bienvenido A. Tudtud, and Benjamin C. Llanos.

Ronald Duterte was elected Cebu City vice mayor in 1980 and became mayor in 1983 when Dr. Florentino Solon was appointed by President Marcos as Director of the Nutrition Center of the Philippines.