BACK TO MANILA. Photo captured with a mobile phone show President Rodrigo R. Duterte sitting at the second to the last row of the economy class portion of a commercial airline as he flies back to the nation’s capital on January 5, 2017 after spending his New Year break in Davao City. Also in the photo is Special Assistant to the President Christopher ‘Bong’ Go. Presidential Photo
He did it again.
President Rodrigo Duterte took a commercial flight back to Manila from Davao City on Thursday night.
Photos released by Malacañang showed Duterte sitting on an economy seat aboard a Philippine Airlines flight.
Duterte was last seen in public during the commemoration of the Rizal Day in Manila on December 30.
Palace officials said the 71-year old chief executive spent his New Year in his hometown city and had a “quiet time” there during the first few days of the year.
Duterte’s Thursday night trip was not the first time he took a commercial flight as President.
In July, he also took a premium economy seat onboard PAL going home to Davao City.
READ: No VIP treatment: Duterte takes commercial flight to Davao
He had also undergone security checks like a regular passenger.
He earlier said he planned to take commercial flights as President to shuttle between Manila and Davao City.
During his first meeting with his Cabinet officials, he told them to shun special treatment.
“We should treat ourselves just like any other Filipino traveler,” he had said then. /ATM