BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – President Rodrigo Duterte paid a visit to Negros Occidental on Thursday in what could be his last visit to the province as the country’s leader. He is stepping down on June 30.
Duterte attended a private gathering hosted by the Yanson family in Barangay Bubog, Talisay City.
The Yanson family, staunch supporters of Duterte, would usually host the Chief Executive at their place in Talisay City whenever he would visit Bacolod.
During a short speech, Duterte thanked the Negrenses for their support these past six years.
He also thanked them for delivering victory to his daughter, Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Duterte-Carpio garnered 475,854 votes in Negros Occidental against opponent Francis Pangilinan’s 376,288 votes.
The outgoing President vowed to still assist the people of Negros Occidental.
In January 2020 Duterte was the guest of honor during the birthday celebration of Olivia Yanson, the matriarch of the Yanson family.
The Yanson matriarch has been thrust into the national consciousness after her six children figured in an intra-corporate battle involving the family-owned Yanson Group of Bus Companies, the country’s largest bus firm operating across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
During his 2020 visit, the President told Olivia about his wish that her family would reconcile./PN
