First he said that the Malacañang Palace houses ghosts, then he said that it has too many doors.
Now, President Rodrigo Duterte is saying that his official workplace gets boring.
On Thursday, President Duterte said that he will be spending the weekend in Davao because he’s bored in the Palace, ABS-CBN News reports.
“Okay ako dito, magpasyal pasyal. Pero kung sa Malacañang lang ako, maglibing kayo ng presidente sa sunod na taon. Mamatay ako diyan sa boredom,” Duterte told members of the police and the military in the headquarters of the Southern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Camp Guillermo Nakar in Lucena City, Quezon.
(“I’m okay here, I can tour around. If I stay in Malacañang, however, you’ll bury a president next year. I will die of boredom there.”)
He also said that his work sometimes makes him feel sad and lonely.
“Malungkot ako masyado… trabaho ako hanggang gabi, alas tres magsakay ako ng barge, trabaho, tulog, tapos gisingin ako kasi maglipad ako,” Duterte said.
(“I’m sad… work until the evening, ride the barge at three, work, sleep then they’ll wake me up because we’ll fly.”)
Duterte is stuck in Malacañang because he doesn’t want to go out and cause additional traffic congestion.
On a separate report by the Philippine Star, the President said that in spite of the circumstances, the will to work is there.
“Do not feel shortchanged. My will to work is there. But if you ask me if I’m happy, I am not. It’s lonely. And even when I am home, it is still work,” Duterte said in an address to the officers of the League of Cities and Provinces.
The 71-year-old Chief Executive said that he is not used to this kind of life. However, he staying because of his love for the country.
Duterte went home to Davao City Thursday night, and he’ll be returning to Manila by Sunday. He is also planning to spend ten days in his hometown.
