Rody wants to slug rider of noisy motorcycle

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte was unable to hide his displeasure yesterday over the sound of a noisy, speeding motorcycle, which disrupted the press briefing that followed his visit to a police official’s wake in Antipolo City.

“If we’re in Davao, I would have hit (the rider) with a steel bar,” Duterte, a biker himself, said.

“I didn’t allow that in (Davao) during my mayorship. I don’t know now under my daughter (Sara Duterte),” said Duterte, who served as Davao mayor for more than two decades.

Duterte said he put a silencer on his big bike to avoid annoying people with the sound of the motor whenever he was riding.

The President previously had a Harley Davidson, which he used in going around the city during his surprise inspections while he was mayor.

Duterte was discussing his plans for the revenues of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) amounting to P30 billion to P35 billion a year when the motorcycle sped by and interrupted the press conference.

According to Duterte, Pagcor funds must be used for medicine for the poor.

The President went to the wake of Insp. Mark Gil Garcia, who was killed in an encounter with two men, who were also slain during a drug sting last week.

Duterte said he handed the police officer’s benefits to the bereaved family and directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to include his family in the government’s conditional cash transfer program. The family will also be given a regular monthly ration of rice.