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Duterte's mom as the brave 'lola' who fought Marcos rule in Davao City


Despite President Rodrigo Duterte's current closeness with the Marcos family, his hometown, Davao City, had fought the dictatorship of the late President Ferdinand Marcos — and it was led by his mother, Soledad "Nanay Soling" Roa Duterte.

A report on "News to Go" by GMA News' Howie Severino on Friday said Mrs. Duterte played a major role in anti-Marcos movement in the city during the Martial Law period.

"There is no mobilization against the dictatorship without Nanay Soling," said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. "Kasi basically, Nanay Soling was a civil servant, mga lay leaders... very respected."

"So probably just like us, she saw the atrocities committed by the Marcos regime," he added.

The report said Soledad Duterte was one of the leaders in Davao City of the Yellow Friday Movement, which supported the candidacy of the late President Corazon Aquino, who was catapulted to power following Marcos' ouster in February 1986.

The group was formed following the assassination of Mrs. Aquino's husband, then opposition Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., in 1983.

According to Baby Duterte, Nanay Soling's eldest daughter, Mrs. Aquino, at the start of her presidency, offered her mother the position of city vice mayor.

"Pero nagpilit 'yang si Cory Aquino. This was when history was shifted. Sabi ng nanay ko, kung magpilit ka talaga.. hanapan mo ng ano.. magtulong sa 'yo. Sabi niya, 'Take my son'," Baby Duterte said.

"Di man nag-apply 'yang si Digong kay Cory. It's because of my mother," she added.

President Duterte, who ruled Davao City as mayor for many terms, has been criticized for his closeness with the Marcos family, even allowing the late dictator to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

The whole report on the anti-Marcos movement in Davao City will be aired on "I-Witness" on Saturday, February 25, the 31st anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolt. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News

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