Former President Rodrigo Duterte has been enjoying his retirement from public service, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles said on Sunday.
Angeles said she flew to Davao City on Friday to personally visit the predecessor of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
She was accompanied by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who served as Duterte’s longtime aide before he was elected lawmaker.
“With the #OG! Binisita natin nitong nakaraang araw si dating Pang. Rodrigo Duterte sa Davao City. Maayos ang kalagayan niya at ini-enjoy ang pagreretiro pero patuloy pa rin ang serbisyo publiko bilang isang pribadong mamamayan,” Angeles wrote in a social media post.
Duterte told Angeles that he is enjoying his retirement through reading to “keep mentally alert,” “talking to people” and “riding his motorbike.”
“A few months ago, I interviewed him for the Salamat PRRD book and at the end of it, we had a short personal discussion of history. He said he wanted to know more about the Philippine revolution and the Katipunan.
Fortunately, I had brought with me Nick Joaquin’s book, A Question of Heroes, and gave it to him,” Angeles shared.
“I then reminded him that I had given him one book before, and if he would like, I would bring him more next time I am in town. He smiled and said yes.”
She said Duterte is pleased to know that the work in Malacañang, which has been home for six years, is doing good.
“He asked me how work was going, and I said it was going well and that the President is fine and in good health. He smiled, nodded and said that is good,” Angeles said.
Marcos had earlier said he was open to making Duterte his government’s anti-drug czar to ensure the continuity of the country’s anti-drug campaign.
Former chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo has said that the popular former chief executive is not inclined to serve as an anti-drug czar but requested Marcos to continue his anti-drug campaign.