Duterte plans to open Palace to public

DAVAO CITY – Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte wants Filipinos to learn more about the government, particularly the country’s seat of power – Malacañan.

The official residence and principal workplace of the president, Malacañan’s original structure was built in 1750 by Luís Rocha as a summer house along the Pasig River. It was purchased by the state in 1825 as the summer residence for the Spanish governor-general.

Duterte said he is set to open Malacañang not only to tourists who visit the existing museum but most especially to small school children as an educational trip destination.

“I want the people, especially school children, to learn more about the presidency and the government,” Duterte told The STAR yesterday.

Duterte added he would also like to open the presidential palace to the poor so that they will get to know more about past presidents of the country.

He said this would in effect make the people a part of their government.

But Duterte stressed that the Malacañang complex is too big for him.

“All I need is a small office in a corner where I can work,” he said.

He also expressed disinterest in living in the Palace by the Pasig River because of what he called “ghosts of the past.”

Duterte said he might look for a small house near Malacañang where he can stay while in Manila.

He said he prefers to hold office and stay most of the time in Davao City where he was mayor for more than 22 years, and served one term each as vice mayor and first district representative.

Duterte said he might use the executive private jet of his long-time buddy, international evangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, to travel between Davao City and Manila every now and then.

Duterte’s prerogative

Meanwhile, Malacañang yesterday said it respects Duterte’s prerogative to implement policies that are in direct contrast to those of outgoing President Aquino.

“The president as chief executive is duty- bound to enforce the laws of the land, fairly and justly,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said about the incoming president’s “shoot-to-kill” order to criminals or drug traffickers who will try to resist arrest.

The Palace official nonetheless defended the move, noting that the tough-talking Duterte clarified in his press conference Monday that such “option shall be taken as a last resort or when criminal suspects actively resist arrest.”

“As a body created by the Constitution, the Commission on Human Rights is well within its duties to espouse adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights as it makes commentaries on these pronouncements,” Coloma said.

With regard to Duterte’s plan to appoint officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Coloma said every president exercises the prerogative to get Cabinet members who are deemed capable and trustworthy.

“In exercising this power, the president must submit the appointees to the scrutiny of Congress through its Commission on Appointments, as provided by the Constitution,” he told Palace reporters in a news briefing.

– With Delon Porcalla