Duterte sends holiday cheer to young cancer patients in Davao City

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday sent holiday cheer to young cancer patients in Davao City as part of a Christmas tradition that dates back to the time when he was still city mayor.

Photos released by Malacañang on Monday showed Duterte checking on patients, planting a kiss on the forehead of a kid and doing the fistbump with children confined at the Southern Philippines Medical Center's Cancer Institute Children's Unit.

He also gave toys and food to the children.

LOOK: President Duterte on Sunday visited children afflicted with cancer at the Southern Philippines Medical Center's Cancer Institute Children's Unit in Davao City. Malacañang says Duterte is set to spend Christmas with his family in Davao. ????: Palace @gmanews pic.twitter.com/iUv0rgt7cT

— Virgil Lopez (@virgillopez) December 24, 2018

The President also received a briefing from Dr. Leopoldo Vega, chief of hospital of the SPMC.

Duterte was accompanied in the visit by Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert Eric Borje and former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.

Malacañang earlier said Duterte has a soft heart for sick children. The President also visited the young cancer patients at SPMC in December 2016 and August 2017.

Duterte will be spending Christmas with his family in Davao, according to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News