Soft-spoken 'wife', 11-year-old daughter supportive of tough guy Duterte

A woman and a girl were inconspicuously seated at the side and were intently listening to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte make his speech during the kick off rally of his presidential campaign on Tuesday.

Duterte refused to face the camera while he was making his speech. The girl went up to him and told him to face the other side of the stage. He obliged and then called the little girl, “Anak.”

 

Veronica asked dad Mayor Duterte to face the cameras at the other side of the stage while making his speech in Tondo, Manila. He obliged. #eleksyon2016

A video posted by Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) on

Feb 10, 2016 at 4:41am PST

Duterte had admitted he was once married to flight attendant Elizabeth Zimmerman. They had three children: Paolo, Sara, and Sebastian. The couple later decided to have their marriage annulled. After having several relationships, the mayor decided to live in with Honeylet Avanceña, a nurse. They later had a child, Veronica, who is now 11 years old.

Throughout Duterte’s over-an-hour-long speech, Honeylet and Veronica just stayed at the side. Veronica would from time to time, go to her Dad and hand over a note written on a piece of paper and a bottle of water.

The reserved 11-year-old just stayed with her mother. They did not even flinch whenever the mayor cursed or talked about his love for women.

 

Meet Mayor Duterte's common-law wife Honeylet and their daughter, Veronica. #eleksyon2016

A video posted by Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) on

Feb 10, 2016 at 4:45am PST

When GMA News Online caught up with them after the kick off, Honeylet and Veronica just smiled. But the 11-year-old kept hold of her mother's arm.

“Mixed emotions talaga... Suporta lang mi [We’ll support him].  Siyempre, he’s 70 years old. Just make sure he eats on time. And prayers pud [And, prayers too],” Honeylet told GMA News Online in mixed Tagalog, English and Bisayan.

Honeylet said that she will try her best to join Duterte in the campaign trail since their daughter is still studying in Davao City.

When Veronica was asked to share her thoughts, she gave a big smile and just whispered her answer to her Mom.

"Mag-pray daw siya," her mother said. — APG, GMA News