Duterte accepts Paolo’s resignation
President Duterte yesterday accepted the resignation of his son Paolo Duterte as Davao City vice mayor following a spat with his daughter and reports of his alleged involvement in the drug smuggling at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the announcement 10 days after the younger Duterte tendered his resignation.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has written the younger Duterte to inform him that his resignation has been accepted by the President. Resignation from posts of officials of highly-urbanized cities need the approval of the President.
“We refer to your letter tendering your resignation as vice mayor of Davao City. On behalf of the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, this is to inform you that your resignation is hereby accepted, effective immediately,” Medialdea said in a one-page memo to Paolo dated Jan. 5.
“Thank you and best regards,” the official added.
Davao Mayor Sara Duterte and DILG officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy were notified about the President’s decision. Incidentally, Cuy has been replaced by Undersecretary Eduardo Año.
Paolo announced his resignation on Christmas Day during a special session of the Davao City Council intended for the declaration of the city under a state of calamity.
Paolo then submitted his resignation letter to Malacañang on Dec. 27.
Paolo said he was resigning from office because of certain problems in his failed first marriage as well as his muchpublicized quarrel with his eldest daughter, Isabelle.
The city’s third district councilor Bernard Al-ag, who garnered the most number of votes in the May 2016 local elections, is reportedly replacing Paolo as vice mayor.
President Duterte earlier said he is leaving it to his son Paolo to do what was right and let the people decide on his resignation from post following his public squabble with his daughter.
Duterte said he had talked with Paolo the other day about his decision to resign.
As a father, the President said he advised his son to simply do what he think is right.
According to Duterte, Paolo has taken into consideration his squabble with Isabelle and also his involvement in the Bureau of Customs mess.
Isabelle recently got into the limelight after her pre-debut pictorials inside Malacañang went viral and caused a stir since she and her fashion stylists used the emblem of the Office of the President and the Philippine flag as backdrops.
Duterte also hinted that the incident between Paolo and his teenage daughter, that triggered the father and daughter’s heated exchange in social media, may have been the last straw that prompted the vice mayor to resign.
Paolo earlier also blamed his failed relationship with Isabelle’s mother as a reason for his woes, as well as the issues at the BOC.
Meanwhile, presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo described Paolo’s character as similar to his father, who is sensitive to the people’s opinions.
While he is not privy to whether Paolo’s resignation has been approved, Panelo said the President’s son is smart enough as a politician to determine his next step in politics.