Palace of the South for Rody; satellite offices for Leni

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has no choice but to give in to the recommendation of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to hold his meetings at the so-called Malacañang of the South, located at the back of the Department of Public Works and Highways depot in Barangay Panacan in this city. 

Security concerns reportedly forced Duterte to consider the suggestion of his security officials to hold his meetings, and even the social accommodation of his well-wishers, at the Malacañang of the South.

In a press briefing last Saturday night, Duterte said he had no plans of using the structure, which was used by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for meetings with several sectors shortly before she left office in 2010.

However, officials said Duterte’s holding meetings in restaurants and hotels had posed a security problem, especially since they usually last until the wee hours. 

Admitting that he is nocturnal, Duterte holds press conferences from midnight to the early hours of the next day.

But Duterte’s close aide Christopher Go said that the president-elect would be using the structure as an office. After working hours, he would stay at his personal residence here in Davao City. 

Duterte said “it would need some getting used to” before he could sleep in places other than his bed here in Davao City.

He added that his own place in Davao City is his “comfort zone.”

Actually, the DPWH guesthouse was built when former police chief Hermogenes Ebdane was then the DPWH chief. It served as a place where Arroyo could stay during her overnight trips to the south instead of staying in hotels.

It cost government P24 million to build the structure located beside the headquarters of the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom).

Security has also been tightened in the premises of the DPWH compound since the building is located beside the sea and right across the Island Garden City of Samal.

The room reserved for Arroyo then reportedly had a balcony that faced the water fronting Samal Island. 

Fishermen had reportedly been prohibited from venturing to the waters fronting the guesthouse, especially when the president was in the premises.

Meanwhile, Duterte said he would also strengthen the country’s internal security, including the fight against crime and illegal drugs which he considers to have reached  “crisis levels.”  

He said he plans to create two more Army divisions in addition to the existing forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Duterte likewise said he would be recruiting 3,000 more policemen to add to the ranks of the Philippine National Police. 

The tough-talking president vowed to strengthen the fight against crime and illegal drugs as a priority of his administration when he assumes office on June 30.

However, he refused to divulge what would exactly be his plans in using the more than 5,000 men he intends to add to existing government forces. 

Duterte also did not come up with any statement on a possible reassignment or realignment of government forces to fight the enemies of the state. 

Satellite offices for Leni

On the other hand, vice president-elect Leni Robredo intends to use the P500,000 monthly rental for the opulent Coconut Palace to set up satellite offices in some provinces.

“She will not live or hold office at the Coconut Palace. She will instead use the rental for satellite offices in the provinces so she can better serve the people,” her spokesperson Georgina Hernandez said yesterday.

She said Robredo is planning to go on a provincial visit once a week and return home to Naga City once a month.

She would also have a small office in Metro Manila, she said.

Before outgoing Vice President Jejomar Binay, Hernandez added that the nation’s second highest-ranking official did not have an official residence.

Binay is using the Coconut Palace as his residence-office. The building was constructed during martial law by former first lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, for the then-visiting Pope John Paul II. However, the pope chose to stay at the Pope Pius XII Center in Manila.

The Coconut Palace is part of the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

Hernandez said Robredo plans to have a “transition meeting” with Binay soon.

She also said the vice president-elect would still continue taking the bus home to Naga City.

“Taking the bus is something natural for the Robredo family. It reminds VP Leni that she is just an ordinary person. Even the late local government secretary Jesse Robredo took the bus home,” she said.

As to why Robredo did not wear yellow to her proclamation by Congress on Monday, her spokesperson said it was not intentional and people should not put any meaning to it.

“She has a lot of yellow shirts but only two yellow dresses, which were not available on Monday. She is not turning her back on the Liberal Party,” she said.

Yellow is associated with the Aquinos – from the late president Corazon Aquino to her murdered husband Benigno Aquino Jr. and incumbent President Aquino.

Hernandez said Robredo would push for her “advocacies of poverty reduction and participatory governance” even if president-elect Rodrigo Duterte does not give her a Cabinet job.

“She fully understands that the incoming president would have to prioritize his allies,” she said.

Duterte has told reporters that giving Robredo a Cabinet post has not crossed his mind.

He said he would have to take care first of his allies and friends who helped him win the presidency. – With Jess Diaz