Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian (Photo from Valenzuela PIO) Gatchalian also thanked the President for “devoting” his time during his Wednesday night address “to discuss” about the matter. The mayor said that although he was not able to talk to Duterte personally, he noted that the President’s move to tackle the issue on a national television “was enough” for the local government “to be glad.” “Ako ang dapat magpasalamat sa pangulo dahil na validate yung ginawa nating hakbang. And pangalawa, nagpapasalamat ako na sinabi nya talaga doon na yung mga local government, kapangyarihan nila ‘yan (I should be the one to thank the President for validating our move. I’m also thankful that he said, it is the local government that has the power over the matter),” he said.