PRRD to spend final days in office between Manila, Davao

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on May 18, 2022. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – In his last 15 days as the country’s chief executive, President Rodrigo R. Duterte will remain busy performing his duties, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Duterte, while fulfilling his job as the country’s leader, will be spending most of his time flying back and forth from Malacañan Palace in Manila to his official residence in Davao City, said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Undersecretary Michel Kristian Ablan.

“He’s shuttling between official duties, as well as going back to his hometown in Davao. And we’ll see more of that in the final 15 days before the inauguration this coming June 30,” Ablan said in an interview with CNN Philippines’ Politics As Usual aired on Tuesday night.

When he became president, Duterte opted to divide his time to work in between Manila and Davao.

Duterte usually stays in Manila on weekdays or his working days and spends the weekend with his family in Davao.

No scheduled meeting with successor yet

Meantime, Ablan said Duterte has no scheduled meeting yet with his successor Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

He said he is not aware if Duterte is set to meet with Marcos before June 30, the day when the President-elect takes oath as the country’s 17th chief executive.

“I’m not privy to any other meeting other than the previous meeting so it remains to be seen if they’re going to meet before the inauguration,” Ablan said.

Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on May 31 said Duterte is already looking forward to his retirement.

Duterte was being considered the drug czar of the incoming Marcos administration. He, however, rejected the offer, saying “it is not my time.”

On May 30, Duterte presided over his “last and full” meeting with his Cabinet.

However, Cabinet Secretary Melvin Matibag assured the public that Duterte and the outgoing department secretaries would continue working until June 30.

Matibag said Duterte may still hold a Cabinet meeting in his last days in office, if need be.