PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte admitted Friday that he was saddened that his late mother, Soledad, has not witnessed his rise from mayor of Davao City to 16th president of the Philippines.
In an event organized for the women sectors on the last day of the International Women's Month, Duterte talked of the closeness he shared with his mother growing up.
The President remembered how his mother supported him and believed in him, despite his failing grades.
"The sacrifices, she had endured [those] because she was working for all of us. I've always been closed to my mother because she was the only one who stood by me," the President recounted.
"My sorrow really is that she could have witnessed me become a president. But of course, I know she wouldn't have believed it," he added.
Duterte paid tribute on her mother on the last day of International Women's Month celebration.
In his previous speeches, the Chief Executive was always praising his mother.
Soledad, who led the Yellow Friday movement, fought against the dictatorship of late President Ferdinand Marcos.
The President then said that when he dies, he does not want to be given hero's burial because he wants to be buried beside his mother.
"Who wants to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani? I will just give you my privilege [to be buried there]; I just want to be buried beside my mother," he said. (SunStar Philippines)