MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte made his first trip to an area devastated by tropical storm "Vinta" outside of his Davao City hometown days after it left a trail of death and destruction in many parts of Mindanao. "I can assure you na we will fast-track everything," Duterte told the officials. He's been in Davao which was hard hit, too," Harry Roque, a spokesman for Duterte, told Philstar.com. Duterte spent the last few days in Davao city where he was seen weeping as he commiserated with the families of the individuals killed by a fire that devoured a large part of the NCCC Mall. READ: Davao City declares state of calamity due to 'Vinta'Duterte was the mayor of Davao City for many years before he was elected to the presidency last year on a strong anti-crime and anti-corruption platform.

Source: Philippine Star December 27, 2017 15:11 UTC