Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte Distributes Food Packs at Roman Catholic Cemetery in Davao City
PAOLO DUTERTE – The Davao Congressman continued the Undas tradition of his father, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, amid his ICC detention.
There are several Filipino traditions during Undas which include the going the cemeteries to light a candle and offer flowers and prayers to the deceased, the preparing of foods for the family, as well as offering a portion of the prepared food in the belief that the souls of the dead are in this world on All Souls’ Day.
November 1 and 2 are usually declared holidays in the Philippines for the observance of the All Saints’ Day and the All Souls’ Day. In fact, this year, October 31 was declared a special non-working day for all the working Filipinos who return to their hometown every Undas.
Even the celebrities and the government officials had the chance to visit the tombs and grave of their deceased loved ones. In Davao, Cong. Paolo Duterte continued the Undas tradition of his father, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte remains detained under the custody of the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands. He is faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged ‘crimes against humanity’. The foreign court denied his plea for an interim release.
The ICC also junked former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte camp’s challenge to its jurisdiction. They renewed their plea but his family previously said they already expect their father to spend the Christmas holidays inside the ICC detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands.
Previously, when he was still not inside the ICC detention facility, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte really visits the tombs of his late parents during Undas. Based on a report on GMA News, he also used to bring food packs to share to the people at the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Davao City.
Amid his father’s detention, Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte continued the Undas tradition of the former President. The food packs were given to visitors, residents of the barangay, workers in the cemetery. The former President sent flowers for his late parents, Vicente and Soledad, with name cards where these were written — “To Papa Vicente from Rody” and “To Nanay Soling from Rody”.
The ICC previously ordered medical examination on former Pres. Duterte to assess his fitness to stand trial. Previously, his lawyer claimed that he is allegedly not fit to stand trial, thus, the confirmation of charges hearing was postponed.