Friday, 1 July 2016

Meet the Dutertes!

At noon of June 30, Rodrigo Duterte formally assumed office as the 16th president of the Philippines. After being on the center of attention for the past few months, he now shares the spotlight with members of his family.

Here's a look at the newly minted First Family.
Sara "Inday" Duterte
Feisty Sara is the only daughter of Duterte with former wife Elizabeth Zimmerman. The newly elected mayor of Davao City, taking over the seat of her father, hogged the headlines back in 2011 for losing her temper and punching a court sheriff during a demolition -- an incident she said she regrets. A tough leader just like her father, Sara has repeatedly taken the cudgels for Duterte whom she has come to describe as a lawyer "with the manners of a street thug."


Sebastian "Baste" Duterte
More known as Baste, with his signature unkempt hair, Duterte's youngest son has become a surprise heartthrob during his father's campaign. However, Baste has shown little interest in being on the spotlight, having a shy and quiet demeanor opposite his dad's brusque and no-nonsense approach to things. The younger Duterte, who has garnered quite a following online, has also said he has no plans of entering the world of politics and following the footsteps of his father and elder siblings, Sara and Paolo.
Paolo "Pulong" Duterte

Duterte's eldest son, Paolo, is the incumbent vice mayor of Davao City. Paolo had not been very visible in his father's presidential campaign and even earned the ire of the elder Duterte after he chose to endorse a different vice presidential candidate over his father's own running mate. Just weeks before the May 9 polls, Paolo also faced allegations that he is involved in smuggling, but he has dismissed these as mere black propaganda against Duterte.

Elizabeth Zimmerman

Zimmerman's 27-year civil marriage to Duterte may have already been annulled some 15 years ago, but the two remain good friends until now. Throughout Duterte's campaign, Zimmerman has had only good words for her former husband and even joined the Byaheng Du30 bus tour in the Visayas and Mindanao despite her illness. "I wanted to help. He is a part of my family still," she said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.
Cielito "Honeylet" Avanceña

"Tagapag-alaga ng Presidente" is what Avanceña, the common-law wife of Duterte, wants to be known for. Refusing to be called First Lady, Avanceña, a former nurse turned businesswoman, said she wants to bring simplicity to Malacañang. Of Duterte, she said: "Wala kang makikitang pinaka-patriotic na tao, wala akong pwedeng ma-compare sa kanya."
Veronica "Kitty" Duterte

Eleven-year-old Veronica, more known as Kitty, is the only daughter of Avanceña with the 71-year-old veteran politician. A fixture in Duterte's campaign sorties, Kitty held the Bible for her father during his inauguration ceremonies. According to Avanceña, Kitty has remained grounded despite all the attention brought about by her father's massive victory.

Source: ABS-CBN

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