ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div style="padding-top:66.375%"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1474087" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></div></figure><p>MANILA - For presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte, it is better to not have any first lady.</p><p>&quot;You know, it&#x27;s better not to have a first lady at all. I am separated from my first wife, I have a second wife. Just to avoid, you know you can spin a lot of [stories], weave a lot of things there. Baka wala, &#x27;di na ako mag-first lady. Bakit mag-first lady, first lady ka pa,&quot; he told reporters at the Hotel Elena in Davao City on Sunday.</p><p>This, despite earlier pronouncements that he has picked daughter Inday Sara to serve as <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/focus/05/10/16/inday-sara-will-be-dutertes-first-lady"><strong>First Lady</strong></a> in official functions.</p><p>Duterte is currently single. He was once married to Elizabeth Zimmerman, the mother of his three children - Paolo, Sara, and Sebastian.</p><p>Duterte and Zimmerman separated in July 1998. Zimmerman filed a petition to nullify their marriage and the court approved her petition two years after, ending Duterte and Zimmerman&#x27;s 27-year marriage.</p><p>Duterte also has a common-law wife, Honeylet Avancena. They have a 12-year-old daughter, Veronica.</p><p>READ:<a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/video/focus/05/13/16/honeylet-avancea-kamay-na-bakal-sa-likod-ni-duterte"><strong> Honeylet Avancena, Duterte&#x27;s lady love</strong></a></p><p>Duterte spokesman Peter Laviña earlier said that Duterte&#x27;s older daughter, Sara, will be assuming the role of first lady.</p><p>&#x27;&#x27;Even if she is city mayor of Davao, most of the roles of the First Lady will be ceremonial in nature... There is no compensation or renumeration for her role,&#x27;&#x27; Laviña said.</p><p>READ: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/focus/05/05/16/inday-sara-duterte-daughter-shuns-first-lady-role"><strong>Inday Sara: Duterte daughter shuns First Lady role</strong></a></p>

<p>Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte said it is better to not have any first lady to avoid any trouble.</p>

Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte said it is better to not have any first lady to avoid any trouble.

Duterte: It's better not to have a first lady

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Duterte: It's better not to have a first lady

ABS-CBN News

Published May 19, 2016 05:18 PM PHT

|

Updated September 30, 2016 10:33 AM PHT

Read More:

nation

Rodrigo Duterte

first lady

Davao City

Sara Duterte

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.