Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is the 2015 Most Outstanding Alumnus at Lyceum of the Philippines University.
Duterte said “his incalculable services, exemplary dedication to duty, and outstanding achievements in positions of high responsibility in … public service … bringing honour to … his alma mater.”
The mayor was the top honoree during LPU’s Quality Awards Convocation that marked the school’s 63rd foundation anniversary and 124th anniversary of founder Dr. Jose P. Laurel.
Duterte graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1968 and majored in Political Science – said he was gratified by the award because he had received very few honours in his lifetime.
He attributed this to his not being scholarly. “It took me seven years to finish high school,” he said, eliciting laughter from the audience. “I am not really an extraordinary guy, 75-75 lang.”
In his speech, Duterte addressed both his campaign for Federalism and to give notes on his possible run for presidency.
Duterte was Davao City’s assistant city prosecutor for seven years – vice mayor for five years – congressman for three years and mayor for a total of 20 years.
After serving as vice mayor for three years, he was again elected mayor in 2013 for what would presumably be another three-term stint – unless, as someone put it during the convocation, “fate intervenes.”
Under Duterte’s administration, Davao City became known as the most law-abiding and safest city in the Philippines.
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