-
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/29 June) – Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who will take his oath as the 16th President of the Philippines, is a President of many firsts.
The 71-year old Duterte voted by 16.6 million Filipinos, is the first Mindanawon to lead the country (Luzon had 12, Visayas three).
Duterte is also the first City Mayor to win the Presidency. Joseph Estrada was also a city mayor but he was elected Senator and later Vice President before finally becoming President in 1998.
But there’s more to Duterte’s firsts.
According to the “Presidency and Vice Presidency by the Numbers” published by the Presidential Museum Library (http://malacanang.gov.ph/77212-presidency-and-vice-presidency-by-the-numbers-duterte-robredo/), Duterte is also the first
Duterte served as mayor of Davao City for 22 years – 1988 to 1998, 2001 to 2010 and 2010 to 2013. He served as vice mayor twice (OIC from 1986 to 1987; elected from 2010 to 2013) and represented the first district of Davao City in Congress from 1998 to 2001.
Duterte never lost an election since he ran for mayor in 1988. (MindaNews)