Pulong, Honeylet only members of first family to attend Duterte s final SONA
enablePagination: false FILE PHOTO
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) Only two immediate family members of President Rodrigo Duterte will personally witness his sixth and final State of the Nation Address on Monday, according to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
House Deputy Speaker Paolo Pulong Duterte and his family, and the President s common-law wife, Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña, will be the only members of the first family to be physically present at the Batasang Pambansa, Roque told CNN Philippines.
Duterte has three children with his former wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, namely Paolo, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Baste Duterte, who is recovering from a bout of COVID-19. The President also has one child with Honeylet.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
The President said it was “natural” for a leader to become a lame duck as his six-year presidency is winding down. Duterte talked about his rapidly dwindling years in office during the inauguration of new school buildings in Valenzuela City Thursday, March 4.
Elected on a promise to eliminate illegal drugs and corruption, Duterte will step down from office in June 2022 and make way for his elected successor. “Half a year na lang ako. The other half will be the lame months. Lame duck na ako (I’ll be a lame duck),” the Chief Executive said in his remarks. “That is natural. It happens, it will happen,” he added.