Citizen Duterte to return to Davao City after stepping down from Malacañang

Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte after his meeting with the successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Cropped image from PCOO / Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte will return immediately to Davao City on Thursday, June 30, his last day in office.

Before Duterte’s term ended by noon, he was given departure honors at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang Palace.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said the former chief executive would go home to Davao City via a commercial flight after the departure honors.

“After this, ang alam ko uuwi siya ng Davao mamaya. I’m not sure, he might pass by the residence diyan sa kabila then go to Davao. Mag-commercial flight siya,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the event.

(What I know is that he will return to Davao later. I’m not sure, he might pass by the residence there on the other side then go to Davao. He will ride via a commercial flight.)

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In the morning of Duterte’s last day as president, his successor Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. paid a courtesy call in Malacañang before the latter’s inauguration, keeping with the tradition of turnover ceremonies.

Duterte did not attend the inauguration.

From Malacañang, Marcos then left for the National Museum in Manila City, where he took his oath before Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

The new president overwhelmingly won after garnering over 31 million votes in the May 9 elections.

EDV/abc