MANILA, Philippines – Peter Laviña, campaign spokesman and member of President-elect Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte's transition team, said the mayor's request to fly home to Davao City daily is impractical and risky.
“’Yun ang sanang wishlist ng ating darating na pangulo, pero alam natin sa praktika ay hindi ito puwede. Very risky yung daily air travel at hindi papayag ang kanyang security at PSG (Presidential Security Group),” Laviña said.
Laviña said the president-elect will get used to living in Manila and may instead fly to Davao on a weekly basis.
“Gustuhin man ng ating pangulo na makauwi araw-araw pero malamang hindi ito puwedeng gawin, so posibleng bawat linggo -- on a weekly basis. Baka sa umpisa lang 'yan, pero later on, masasanay din siya sa buhay dito sa Manila,” Laviña said.
The spokesperson also clarified that Duterte’s pronouncement that he does not want to live in Malacañang Palace because there are ghosts there may be just another of the mayor's colorful expressions. “Bukambibig lang ‘yun,” he said.
Laviña mentioned that the president-elect will attend his oathtaking or inauguration.
“Malamang [na mag-barong tagalog] kasi pormal na okasyon yan [inauguration],” he said.
He clarified that Duterte’s earlier pronouncement that his inauguration speech will be no longer than five minutes, is just “one of the jokes.”
“Alam niyo, si mayor, hindi talaga nagbabasa ng talumpati yan. He speaks from the heart. Kaya kayang-kaya niyang magtalumpati hanggang tatlong oras,” Laviña explained.
“Kaya yung sabi niyang five minutes lang, another one of the jokes na naman yun. Malamang abutin yan [inauguration speech] ng mga kalahating oras,” he added.