Duterte hosts thanksgiving dinner for Cabinet, spouses

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte hosted a thanksgiving dinner for his Cabinet members and their spouses on Monday night.

Duterte also serenaded the members of his Cabinet with his rendition of the song “Ikaw.”

In a video posted on Facebook by Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero de Vera, Duterte was seen crooning “Ikaw,” one of the President’s favorite songs and a staple of his meetings with Filipino communities abroad.
 President Duterte thanked his officials during his last Cabinet meeting that was filled with pleasantries, songs and photo opportunities.

Cabinet Secretary Melvin Matibag said the Cabinet clusters presented their accomplishments in the past six years.

He likened the meeting to a family gathering that celebrated the “victory” of the administration.

Matibag said the Cabinet clusters also discussed programs that can be endorsed to the incoming administration.

“The President was upbeat. He expressed gratitude to past and present Cabinet officials for helping him run the country,” Matibag said at a press briefing.

Matibag said Duterte expressed satisfaction with the performance of his Cabinet members during the meeting that started at around 4:30 p.m.

“During the meeting, I repeatedly heard him saying, ‘I was not wrong to choose the members of my Cabinet who really did their jobs.’ So we are happy, all of us are happy to become part of the journey of President Duterte and everyone contributed positively,” Matibag said.

Matibag said Duterte stayed until about 12:30 a.m. yesterday to accommodate members of the Presidential Security Group and the Presidential Management Staff who wanted to have photos with him.

Looking forward to retirement

With only a few weeks left in his term, President Duterte is looking forward to retirement in his hometown Davao City, acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said yesterday.

“He looks forward to his retirement and spending more time with his family and his grandchildren,” Andanar said at a press briefing.

Duterte will step down from office on June 30.

Earlier, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Duterte plans to teach in Davao after his term.

Medialdea said the President started packing his things as early as three months ago.

President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said he is open to the possibility of Duterte serving as his anti-drug czar.

Duterte earlier urged the incoming administration to continue his drug war as he vowed to remain active in fighting illegal drugs even if he becomes a private citizen.

The President also said he would not apologize for his controversial campaign against drugs, which has drawn global condemnation.

“I would say and I would insist, during the tail end of my administration, that I did the right thing. I won’t back down. No apologies,” the President said in a previous public address. – Alexis Romero