Duterte celebrates New Year with family in Davao City

President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the New Year in his hometown Davao City with his family.

In a photo shared by his former top aide and now Senator Christopher “Bong Go,” the country’s chief executive is seen together with his common-law partner Cielito “Honeylet” Salvador Avanceña and their daughter Veronica “Kitty” Duterte.

The president was also joined by his youngest son, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, Baste’s partner Darrela Kate Necessario, and his grandchildren.

In his New Year message, Duterte said Filipinos will greet 2021 "wiser, stronger and more prepared for the challenges ahead." 

"I am confident that all of us will see brighter days ahead because we believe in the indomitable spirit of the Filipino," the President said.

The Philippines closed 2020 with a total of 474,064 COVID-19 cases, with 439,796 recoveries and 9,244 deaths. The government is confident that vaccine rollout will be as early as the first quarter of 2021.

The lockdowns implemented by the government due to the pandemic has resulted in closed businesses, bringing the country to a technical recession.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has cost us so many lives and material resources, but we also learned so much from it," Duterte said.

He then urged the public to "be mindful of all the blessings we have received and on how fortunate we are." —Ted Cordero/KBK, GMA News