With PSG around, Duterte misses blending with crowds

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech during a thanksgiving party organized by his supporters in the Cebu Country Club in Cebu City, on June 8, 2016. (Photo courtesy of the Davao City Mayor’s Office)

CEBU CITY — President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday night he felt sorry that the people could no longer gather near him because of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) men surrounding him.

Duterte, however, broke security protocol on the same night and approached about 20 people gathered outside the Cebu County Club, where a victory party was held for him by a private organization who helped him in his campaign.

After granting requests for photos with some of the guests of the party in the ballroom of the country club, Duterte casually walked toward the gate – about 50 meters away – to talk to the people waiting to catch a glimpse of him.

During his speech at the party, the President-elect recalled the argument he had with the PSG after he threw them out of the Task Force Davao.

“If I want to die, I want to die alone. I don’t want to drag other people,” he said.

Instead of following his orders, Duterte said, the PSG insisted on staying on, saying it was their job to secure the incoming President.

Duterte said he felt “awkward” being surrounded by security men because as a “probinsyano (someone from the province),” he was used to being with a lot of people.

“I feel awkward nga labyan nako ang mga tao nga wa gyud nako sila maistorya, pasalamat sa ilang tabang (I feel awkward that I just passed by the people without even talking to them, thanking them for their help),” he added.

So he did what he wanted to do on Wednesday night.

He dropped by the area where the people had been standing, talked to them and promised to serve them and fulfill his campaign promise to eliminate drugs and criminality.  SFM/rga