President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech at the Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City to mark the 50th founding anniversary of Davao del Norte on Saturday, July 1, 2017. (Photo from an RTVM video)
TAGUM CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday revealed that his advanced age had kept him from having a night life.
When he was still mayor of Davao City, Duterte was known to have spent nights at a karaoke bar there where he would sing with friends and aides until the wee hours.
He also regularly patroled Davao City on a taxi or on a motorbike.
Speaking before some 10,000 people during the 50th founding anniversary of Davao del Norte province here, Duterte said his working day usually begins hours after everyone else’s.
“You know, my day, di ko naman dini-deny ‘yan (I don’t deny it) starts at 1 (p.m.),” the 72-year old chief executive said. “I work at 1 p.m., nakaligo na ako niyan (I already taken a shower by then).”
Duterte was invited to grace the celebrations of the three Davao provinces – Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental – for their jubilee celebrations, but the President said he could only attend two – the Tagum celebration for Davao del Norte and Digos celebration for Davao del Sur.
“Sabi ko ibang panahon na lang kayo because I had to travel to (Davao) Oriental then cross again,” he said.
“I do not have (a night life anymore). Adventures? Wala na, matanda na ako. (I’m old already),” Duterte said.
He said he would then go about his work, signing documents several inches thick, particularly when he would not report to his “house by the river,” referring to Malacañang Palace.
The President said his previous work as a lawyer has trained him to read well all documents, particularly contracts, before affixing his signatures on them. /atm