Duterte says mother didn’t know he was barred from joining San Beda graduation

President Rodrigo Duterte has admitted that he did not tell his late mother that he was disallowed by San Beda College from joining his graduation as a law student in 1972.

Duterte reportedly shot a fraternity brother for bullying him over his being a Visayan, leading to the ban. School authorities later pardoned him and his credentials were released, allowing him to take the Bar examinations.

The President did not discuss the shooting incident when he faced the new graduates of his alma mater, now a university, on Tuesday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

"So I was not allowed to join the graduation. So ako naman umuwi na lang sa Davao because at that time expelled ako. Ang nanay ko nagtanong. Sabi niya, 'Rodrigo, kailan ba ako pupunta ng Maynila?'," Duterte said, whose mother Soledad, passed away at the age of 95 in 2012.

"I kept assuring her that graduation was coming and you know as a mother, excited as I was, she was in a hurry. So sabi niya, 'Mukhang may graduation ata nabasa ko sa ano, newspaper.' Sabi ko, 'Ma, sabi kasi ng pari magulo,'" the President said, eliciting laughter from the crowd.

"Magulo talaga ang Mendiola noon. We were the martial law lawyers. We took the Bar under immense pressure. You know, every 300 meters nandoon ‘yung Metrocom (the defunct Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command) at lahat ‘yung matataas na buhok ginupitan," he added.

"May mga pillbox kung saan saan naglipad. Nag-misa lang kami sa abbey, sa chapel, at binigyan kami ng diploma na wala naman laman para sabihin lang na graduate. Definitely, the graduation will take place. But maybe during a more somber time. So naniwala naman ang nanay ko," Duterte said.

After passing the Bar, Duterte went on to become a government prosecutor, vice mayor, and a mayor of Davao City for many terms. He won the presidency by a large margin in May 2016.

Also during the event, Duterte called on the graduates to join the shared task of protecting the welfare of marginalized Filipinos.

He expressed confidence that with the graduates’ determination to cultivate their talents and skills, they can contribute further to the betterment of their respective communities and industries.

“As one Bedan community, let us work together in forging a stronger citizenry who proactively responds to the call of service for our country and people,” Duterte said. —KBK, GMA News