Duterte to invite homeless people in his inauguration

MANILA, Philippines - Davao City Mayor and presidentiable Rodrigo Duterte remains firm on his stand that he would take his oath of office as president as simple as possible and to do away with much of the pomp that traditionally accompanies a presidential inauguration.

Speaking before businessmen attending Go Negosyo’s “Meet the Presidentiable Series” in Makati, the tough-talking mayor said he would take his oath of office not at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park but at the president’s office inside Malacañang Palace.

He added that he would also not throw a banquet for the diplomatic corps that would be attending his inauguration.

“If I win, I will not take my oath at Luneta. I will take it at Malacañang. Right inside the office. I will not, to the life of me, create a congestion and disturb again the ordinary people. I will not throw a banquet at the diplomatic corps. Mayayaman na yan. I will not throw a banquet. The invitation will say, drinks will be served.  Juice or coca-cola,” he said.

On a serious note, Duterte said that should he have the money to spend for his inauguration, he would instead invite in secret, urban poor people who are seen taking shelter under the many bridges of Metro Manila.

“If I will have money to waste, I will secretly invite all the people living under the bridges to Malacañang,” he said.

Duterte however clarified that such a move should not be seen as melodramatics on his part.

“If you are not from Davao, you would say that I am into melodramatics I am not. Nakokornihan ako. If you are not from Davao, you will not understand me,” he said.