Duterte back in Davao City after inauguration

DAVAO CITY - He left this city a mayor, he came back a president.

President Rodrigo Duterte flew to Davao City on Friday evening after his inauguration as the country's 16th president on Thursday.

He was accompanied by his partner Cielito 'Honeylet' Avanceña and their daughter Veronica.

He was given arrival honors by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the runway of the Tactical Operations Group 11. They were on board a private plane which landed at around 8:40 p.m.

He boarded his pick-up truck and even greeted his well-wishers a good evening using his megaphone.

Duterte attended the change of command ceremony at the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday before flying back to Davao City.

Today also marks the first time Duterte met with Vice President Leni Robredo.

The president said he would govern the country both from Manila and Davao City and not mind dealing with Manila’s traffic and the two-hour plane ride between Manila and Davao.

READ: No 'Manila boy' Duterte to govern from new seat of power

A source told ABS-CBN News that Duterte plans to spend 4 days in Manila and 3 days in Davao as a usual weekly itinerary.

The source said the initial plan is for Duterte to be in Manila from Monday to Thursday and be in Davao City from Friday to Sunday.

This schedule may change depending on the events the president will have to attend.

In his first official Cabinet meeting right after his inauguration yesterday, the president ordered his Cabinet to shun priority treatment when flying to avoid adding to air traffic congestion.

Duterte is expected to hold office at a two-storey structure in Davao City’s Panacan village where he had spent most of his time receiving VIPs and well-wishers after winning the polls.

The president’s decision not to put all of his focus in so-called “Imperial Manila” is in line with his push for a shift of the country’s form of government from unitary to federal.

The Philippines' first president from Mindanao partly blames the country’s current centralized government for the poverty in many provinces.