Duterte son explains family photo minus half-sister

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Presidential son and Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte has called on the people to respect their decision to have their portrait as first family without their half-sister Veronica.

On his Facebook account, Paolo posted a photo showing President Duterte with him and his siblings, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Sebastian and their mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman during the inauguration of their father as the 16th president of the republic last Thursday. 

Another photo showed the elder Duterte, Zimmerman, the three siblings together and their respective children with the presidential seal behind them.

Duterte and Zimmerman had their marriage annulled several years ago and the President has been living with his current partner, Cielito Avanceña and their 12-year-old daughter, Veronica.

Netizens asked why Avanceña and her daughter were not in any of the photos that Paolo posted. The vice mayor replied: “To everybody questioning the whereabouts of Ms. Avanceña and Kitty Duterte, they have their own family picture...”

“Our mother is there and she is our mother, it is none of your business,” Paolo said.

Also at the inaugural last Thursday, Paolo said they drew the ire of the Presidential Security Group when they went out of the gates of Malacañang to thank the supporters of their father.

“Kulang na lang sabihin nila matigas ang ulo ng mga Bisaya (It was short of saying Visayans are hardheaded),” he told reporters in a press conference here yesterday.

Paolo said that it was only minutes before they went out to the Rizal Hall of the Palace that they realized how big the event was.