Duterte prefers barge to limousine in going to Palace residence

President Rodrigo Duterte is flanked by members and officials of the League of Provinces of the Philippines and League of Cities of the Philippines after delivering his keynote speech at the Heroes’ Hall of Malacañang Palace on July 27. KIWI BULACLAC/PPD

President Rodrigo Duterte prefers using the barge to riding the limousine in going to Bahay Pangarap from Malacañang.

Duterte revealed this in his speech during the oath-taking of officers of the League of Cities and Provinces on Wednesday night.

Duterte said he had been using the presidential barge in crossing the Pasig River after a day’s work at the Palace. Using the presidential limousine would require at least 10 convoys to secure the President.

“Tapos pag-uwi ko. Magba-barge ako, matulog,” he said, narrating how he ends his day.

Bahay Pangarap or House of Dreams, the official residence of Duterte, is around five minutes away from the President’s office in Malacañang across the Pasig River.

The presidential barge became famous in 2001 when former President Joseph Estrada used it to leave the Palace at the height of the Edsa II people’s revolt.

Duterte said his motivation to work was his love for the country, although he admitted that he had been “unhappy and lonely” more than a month after he assumed the presidency.

“Ako, nagtratrabaho ako. Do not feel short-changed. My will to work is there, but if you ask me if I am happy, I am not. It’s a lonely, pag-uwi ko doon trabaho, tapos gigisingin. [Makes knocking gestures]) “Sir, gising na sir kasi a las tres na,” he said./rga