RODRIGO Duterte spent his first weekend as President in his hometown in Davao City, but he will eventually be spending more time in Manila, his spokesman Ernesto Abella said Monday.
”You know, he’ll be spending a lot more time here considering the fact that he is, in a sense, both north and south,” Abella told reporters.
“But he will be spending a considerable amount of time in Manila.”
Abella said Duterte would be staying “within the grounds” of Malacañang every time he was in Manila.
He said Duterte would regularly go back every weekend to Davao City, which is 978 kilometers away from Manila.
”I think he enjoys the personal time and he needs it also,” Abella said.
He said he had no idea if the travel expenses of the President would be shouldered by the government.
He also explained Duterte’s absence during the flag-raising ceremony in Malacañang on Monday.
”You know, this is a ceremonial process and the President is not a person who stands on ceremony. He is really an action person,” Abella said.
“But you can expect him to show up when action is really needed.”
Abella said President Duterte would also be spending more time in the Philippines to address its problems.