Davao City — Former President Rodrigo Duterte personally thanked his supporters during the 2024 Pasko Pahalipay sa Taal activity in Bangkal in this city.

“I love you. Thank you for supporting me, Inday Sara, along with Paolo and Baste,” Duterte said in the vernacular before raffling off gift items and cash prizes to some 50,000 people present.

The event came at the end of a politically tumultuous year for the Duterte family.

The former president and his daughter, Vice President Inday Sara Duterte, are embroiled in a highly publicized rift with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with tensions surfacing over governance differences and policy priorities.

The rift deepened following the Vice President’s surprise resignation from her concurrent post as secretary of Education.

Her resignation came amid her publicized frustration over what she described as “political noise” that distracted from meaningful governance. Observers noted this was a significant escalation of the growing discord between the Marcos and Duterte camps.

Adding to the controversy, former President Duterte openly criticized Marcos, calling him a “weak leader” in one of his media interviews.

He questioned Marcos’ leadership abilities, particularly in addressing pressing issues such as inflation, national security and public dissatisfaction. The remarks further cemented the perception of a political fracture between the two influential families.

Sara’s problems

Sara Duterte was also involved in a separate political controversy over the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President. In 2024, the House of Representatives launched an inquiry into the OVP’s confidential fund allocation, questioning its necessity and transparency.

The probe intensified following revelations that the fund, despite being designated for national security-related activities, was being used in ways that some lawmakers argued were politically motivated.

In response, Sara Duterte decried the inquiry as an act of political persecution aimed at discrediting her. She strongly refuted the allegations, defending the use of the funds as part of the OVP’s job of securing the nation.

Despite the national controversies, the Dutertes have remained a dominant force in Davao City politics.

During the Bangkal event, the former president asked for the people’s support as he seeks anew the mayoralty of Davao City in 2025. His son Sebastian, or Baste, the incumbent mayor, will run for vice mayor.

“After all these years, we just work for the people. Why would you replace us?” he asked, as the crowd chanted, “Duterte, Duterte.”

Vice President Duterte was in attendance and raffled off gifts. “I would like to thank all of you for attending. Many thanks to the city government of Davao for its help in organizing this Christmas activity,” she said.

Davao City police personnel, meanwhile, were in full force to secure the area.

“So far, after the Simbang Gabi, we recorded zero incidents in those nine days, and we intend to maintain that during the remaining days of the holiday,” the police said.