Davao City Recreation Center, Davao City
December 27, 2016

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joined the Christmas gathering of Davao City’s barangay officials at the Davao Recreation Center (formerly Almendras Gym) in Quezon Boulevard.

It has been the President’s tradition to join the city’s barangay officials in their annual celebration of the Yuletide season when he was still mayor of Davao City.

In his speech, President Duterte announced that they would receive grocery packs and additional cash gifts – PhP 10,000 for the barangay captains, and PhP 3,000 for the barangay kagawads. He said that he really “reserved something for the barangay officials of Davao City.”

“I couldn’t have been a mayor kung wala sad mo nitabang sa ako,” he added.

In the same message, the President encouraged the New People’s Army (NPA) to spend the new year celebration with their families. He gave his assurance that they would not be arrested.

The barangay officials were overwhelmed by President Duterte’s presence despite his hectic schedule as the Chief Executive.

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