DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Whether it’s Mr. Brown or his lovely daughter, President Duterte says he sees ghosts at Malacañang Palace even during daytime.
This is why he prefers to stay at the much smaller Bahay Pagbabago, at the Presidential Security Group grounds across the Pasig River, instead of at the cavernous palace, seat of the country’s government.
“Ako didto ako puyo sa pikas. Kay ang multo sa Malacañang, maski adlaw nagpapakita man (Me, I stay on the other side because the ghosts at Malacañang appear even at daytime),” the President told residents of Barangay Januiay in Mlang, North Cotabato where a solar-powered irrigation system was inaugurated yesterday afternoon.
The President described the ghost as a Filipina looking so pale she could be a “white lady.”
“Iyon bang multo na Pilipina, nakita ko nga, Pilipina na luspad (the ghost that I see is a Filipina who is so pale),” the President added.
Duterte said that another ghost he sees in the Palace sits on a rocking chair and holds a pipe.
“Malacañang, rocking chair nga puti nakagunit ug pipa. Abay linte ni ah. Diri ta, retreat, retreat. Si didto ako katulog sa kagagmay na kwarto sa atbang,” the President said, explaining that he prefers to sleep in the smaller rooms in Bahay Pagbabago which could be reached by a small boat crossing the Pasig River.
The President at first did not relish even holding office at Malacañang because of what he said were just too many doors that he could only guess where one led or opened up to.
Duterte initially just wanted to stay in a nearby hotel but security considerations made him agree to stay at Bahay Pagbabago whenever he is in Manila.
Most weekends, the President comes home to Davao City.