Manila: Incoming Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has decided he will hold office in his turf, in Davao City, southern Philippines where he served as mayor for more than 20 years.
“I have no more plans of returning to Manila [after my oath-taking on June 30],” Duterte said, adding, “Assistants can bring the papers that need my signature. I think it is OK here [in Davao City].”
Noting where he would stay, Duterte, pointed to his old house, adding, “It is one of the oldest houses in Davao. It is a pre-World War II house.”
Talking of his inauguration, Duterte said he opted for simple rites, adding he would fly in before noon from Davao City, and go straight to Malacanang, the presidential palace, on Laurel Street.
Describing what the ceremony would look like, Duterte said, “The inauguration should be held at the [Malacanang presidential] palace so that we won’t spend more money,”
“Finger food will be served because the inauguration is near noon. Lunch will not be served,” said Duterte, adding, “After the oath-taking I’ll go on nationwide TV where I will spell out my governance in five minutes.”
Looking forward, Duterte said he would not ask for more security details.
“I’m used to having two cars (following me for my security). God knows that. I’d like to maintain it that way,” he explained. “I don’t want a lot of people following me.”
He is known for making rounds in Davao City on his motorcycle without escorts.
Earlier, Duterte said he refused to stay at the presidential palace because of ghosts, adding he has heard stories that ghosts hold conferences at the old palace.
Meanwhile, he said on Thursday he apologised to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the beheading by Islamist militants of a Canadian hostage in the southern province of Sulu.
Duterte told reporters he apologised for last month’s beheading of hostage John Ridsdel when Trudeau called on Tuesday to congratulate him for his election victory.
“I said ‘Mr Prime Minister, please accept my apologies for the incident,’” Duterte said. “We will try our very best and see to it that nothing of this sort will happen again, and you can rest assured that when the time comes, we will be able to apprehend the criminals and exact justice.”
The militants beheaded John Ridsdel on April 25 in Sulu, an impoverished province in the south after they failed to get a ransom of 300 million pesos (Dh23 million or $6.3 million).
Trudeau earlier condemned the killing but vowed not to give in to the kidnappers’ ransom demands. Following the beheading, the Philippine military launched an offensive that security officials believe have killed more than a dozen gunmen so far.
