Rody pays tribute to mom

Marking the last day of Women’s Month, President Duterte yesterday paid tribute to his mother, Soledad, saying she raised him and his other siblings well shortly after his father died at 57 in 1968.

He lamented that his mother did not live long enough to see him become president.

“I am not trying to marginalize my father…but my mother was the one who stood by me…My sorrow (is that) she did not see me become president,” he said.

“Sana kung buhay pa siya, maligaya ako lalo (If she were alive, I would be happier),” Duterte said before 1,000 women from various groups who attended a gathering called Digong’s Day for Women at Malacañang’s Kalayaan grounds last night.

Duterte said his mother “had faith in me” when everybody seemed not to have much belief in him. He recalled how strict his mother was, and how she penalized him for infractions by making him kneel before their altar at home.

“My mother was really a child abuser. If she were alive today, she’d be in jail,” he joked in Filipino.

He also joked about the image of Jesus Christ at the altar whose head became bowed after several years. What might Jesus Christ have told Duterte? Answering his own question, the President said, “Father, forgive him.”

In his speech, Duterte mentioned how he gave Cabi- net posts to women as part of his efforts to empower them.

He mentioned Secretaries Liza Maza of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Leonor Briones of Department of Education, Gina Lopez of Department of Environment, Judy Taguiwalo of Department of Social Welfare, Jean Obial of Department of Health, and Wanda Teo of Department of Tourism.

He also stressed how his campaign against illegal drugs would help the nation, especially parent-OFWs who work abroad just to give their children better lives.

He lamented stories when children would become victims of illegal drugs — either by being raped or killed by drug-crazed men.