Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/nation2/05/20/bong-duterte-052016.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Benjamin &quot;Bong&quot; Duterte (in red shirt), the youngest sibling of presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte. <em>Photo by Dexter Ganibe, ABS-CBN News</em></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>DAVAO CITY - The youngest sibling of presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte is well aware of the kind of influence that he could wield once his brother sets foot in Malacañang, but he said he would rather stay on the sidelines.</p><p>Benjamin, 62, and the youngest in a brood of five, said he realized that politics is not for him after serving a single term as councilor. This preference for a more private life, he said, won&#x27;t change even if his brother will soon become the president of the Philippines.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;d like to stay as humble as I can and stay low-profile. I don&#x27;t want to be placed under the limelight,&quot; Benjamin told reporters.</p><p>Benjamin, known to many in Davao City as Bong, admitted that many people have been asking various favors from him now that his brother will soon become the most powerful person in the country. He, however, said he would not meddle in his brother&#x27;s affairs and let these requests be handled by the concerned parties.</p><p>&quot;I should be very careful with the people that I&#x27;m going to be dealing with. If ever na ‘yung mga hinihingi nila is beyond my capacity, I will just endorse them to the proper (people),&quot; said Benjamin, who has worked for the long-time Davao City mayor as personal secretary.</p><p>&quot;Ang akin for now, I have no position. Ayaw ko mag-kuwan ng mga tao sa akin, na I will be like the little president. Let us wait for the president to make his announcements, kung sino talaga ang ilalagay niya. As for me now, I would like to stay in private.&quot;</p><p>Meanwhile, Benjamin appealed to the so-called Duterte non-believers to let the presumptive president prove himself.</p><p>&quot;A lot of people don’t really know him, because ang pagkaalam nila, iyung kanyang karakter na matigas and all that. Deep inside he&#x27;s a very compassionate man,&quot; he said.</p><p>With the Davao City mayor <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/05/09/16/duterte-set-for-big-win" target="_blank">leading</a> his closest rival Mar Roxas by about 7 million votes, Benjamin believes the presidency is his brother’s destiny.</p><p>&quot;I think that is his destiny. I&#x27;m happy for him and I hope he can really change this country and (ma-meet) &#x27;yung expectations ng mga tao,&quot; he said.</p><p>‘MAYOR KNOWS BEST’</p><p>Benjamin also appealed to critics of his brother&#x27;s decision to name as members of his Cabinet certain personalities linked to the communist movement and past administrations.</p><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t question his wisdom. Marami ang batikos na, &#x27;bakit dito siya nilagay?&#x27; The mayor knows best on why he put those people. We cannot judge that early. Let&#x27;s give these people a chance,&quot; he said.</p><p>Nonetheless, Benjamin believes that his brother would not find it hard to deal with more intense criticism and mudslinging as the tough-talking mayor of Davao City officially assumes the presidency on June 30.</p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s normal. Kahit nung mayor pa siya for the last 23 years. I think it&#x27;s natural and he&#x27;s ready for that,&quot; he said.</p><p>Several camps have expressed reservations over the incoming president&#x27;s decision to give the Left a free hand in appointing people to four government agencies crucial in delivering services to the poor, namely the Departments of Agrarian Reform; Labor and Employment; Social Welfare and Development; and Environment and Natural Resources.</p><div><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/05/16/16/duterte-offers-cabinet-posts-to-communist-party" target="_blank">(READ: Duterte offers Cabinet posts to Communist Party)</a></div><p>The <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/17/16/villar-son-accepts-public-works-portfolio" target="_blank">appointment</a> of Mark Villar as Department of Public Works and Highways secretary has also raised eyebrows. Villar, the son of former Senator Manny Villar, had worked in the family-owned Vista Land and Lifescapes. Critics said his appointment is a clear case of conflict of interest.</p><p>Duterte&#x27;s decision to <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/05/19/16/journalists-blast-panelo-appointment-as-duterte-spokesman" target="_blank">appoint</a> Salvador Panelo as his presidential spokesperson also got families of the victims of Maguindanao massacre concerned. Panelo had served as the legal counsel of the Ampatuans, the primary suspects in the November 23, 2009 bloodbath.</p><div><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/05/20/16/duterte-aide-defends-panelo-lawyers-cant-choose" target="_blank">(READ: Duterte aide defends Panelo: Lawyers can&#x27;t choose)</a></div>

The youngest sibling of presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte is well aware of the kind of influence that he could wield once his brother sets foot in Malacañang, but he said he would rather stay on the sidelines.

Duterte's youngest sibling doesn't like the limelight

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Duterte's youngest sibling doesn't like the limelight

Dharel Placido,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 21, 2016 04:20 AM PHT

|

Updated May 21, 2016 05:51 PM PHT

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Rodrigo Duterte

Benjamin Duterte

Bong Duterte

sibling

brother

youngest sibling

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