Colleagues bid farewell to former Mayor Duterte

Colleagues and fellow public servants remembered former mayor Ronald Duterte, in necrological rites at the Cebu City Session Hall yesterday afternoon, as mild mannered, soft-spoken, refined, elegant, courteous, kind and humble despite what he had achieved in various fields of endeavor.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña appreciated Duterte for being "soft-spoken, elegant and humble unlike the leaders of today" and for being "one of the finest gentlemen" who had served the city government.

Former mayor Florentino Solon, meanwhile, made accounts on how generous Duterte was to him, as the latter shared to him his vast experience in politics being a statesman for 22 years and who was able to successfully foster a cordial relationship between the Sangguniang Panlungsod and the executive department.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama, in his eulogy to Duterte, admired the latter for being a great man who was able to formulate 44 ordinances during his stint at the city council.

In his response, Ronald Patrick Duterte II, the youngest son of the former mayor, said his father really had a heart to serve because even if he was already sick, his never-ending devotion to serve had always prevailed.

Aside from the incumbent city councilors, former city officials and colleagues of Duterte paid tribute to him, such as former mayors Jose "Boy' Cuenco, Eulogio Borces, Sr., Mario Ortis, former councilors Bienvenido Tudtud and Rodolfo Cabrera, among others.

The session hall was also packed with the supporters of Duterte when he was still in public service. Duterte, who was born on January 15, 1934, is the son of former mayor Ramon Duterte, Sr. The latter succeeded as mayor of Cebu City when then mayor, Sergio Osmeña, Jr., the father of Tomas, resigned to run for a congressional post. - Cristina C. Birondo