‘No lavish inaugural ball for Duterte’

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – There may be no extravagant balls or dinners during the inauguration of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte as the next Philippine leader wants his assumption rites to be simple, one of his aides said yesterday.

Peter Laviña, spokesman of Duterte’s transition team, said the inauguration on June 30 would not be held in a large venue as only a limited number of people would be invited.

“He wants it to be simple so we can’t hold it in a big place like the Quirino Grandstand. It can be inside Malacañang. The number of invited people will be limited. It will be a simple oath-taking and maybe an inaugural speech and oath-taking of members of the Cabinet and immediately, everyone goes to work,” Laviña said. ?

“Maybe there will be no inaugural dinner and ball that usually accompany inaugurations. It will depend on the discussions of the inaugural committee,” he added.

Among those who will be invited to the inauguration are incoming members of the Cabinet, family members and supporters of Duterte, and diplomats.

Laviña said even the meals to be served to guests will be simple.

“We will serve the barest. Water, maybe fruits from Davao. They would love our fruits like bananas and pomelos,” he said. 

Laviña could not say who will preside over Duterte’s oath-taking ceremony.

He, however, said it is possible that the incoming president would take his oath before a barangay captain.

“The inaugural team has yet to reach that level of discussion but the mayor is very open. He is non-traditional. A maverick. He can ask any of the public officials from the barangay captain to the highest member of the high court,” Laviña said.  

He said Duterte might attend a pre-inaugural ceremony on June 29 in this city before heading to Manila for his assumption rites. He said Duterte would likely turn over the post of Davao City mayor to his daughter Sara a day before his inauguration.

Laviña said members of the inaugural team have yet to meet with Malacañang officials because they are still awaiting Duterte’s proclamation by Congress. Informal meetings, however, have been held with representatives of the Presidential Management Staff, the Presidential Security Group and the protocol office.