PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte talked to City Mayor Oscar Moreno over the weekend, thanking the latter for supporting his close friends, congressional and councilor candidates Alam Lim and Girlie Balaba.

Duterte talked to the mayor while he was giving his speech in a senatorial rally in Barangay 40, for about five minutes.

Duterte said it's better if officials here are his close friends, making it easier for him to connect to the people of Cagayan de Oro.

"Maayo man pud ng kaila nako kay dali rapud ko maka connect. Kung gusto mo makastorya og dinalian gyud, kaila man nako sila, close ba," he said.

Duterte also reiterated his call to stop using illegal drugs and vowed that his last three years of being president will be the "most dangerous years" for persons dealing with illegal drugs.

"Ang usa ka amahan nga musulod sa droga, dili na katrabaho sige malang pangita ug kwarta, mangawat, mang-rape og bata hasta pari niapil nag pang rape," he said.

Duterte said this is why he tells the public to leave the Catholic church and instead join the new religion, the Iglesia ni Rodrigo.

But quickly added, "Tiaw ra (Just joking)," drawing laugh from the public.

Duterte ended his speech by thanking the mayor and his group, which he referred to as his friends.

He also promised to come to Cagayan de Oro soon.

Duterte's conversation with Moreno came as a surprise for some, especially that he's been tagged by opponents as the "most anti-Duterte mayor in the country.”