Monday, October 06, 2008 Rody welcomes Erap son with coffee at Pearl Farm
AFTER accommodating former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada in Davao City a few weeks ago, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte this time around took extra effort to ensure that Estrada's son, San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, is accorded Dabawenyo accommodation, Duterte-style.
After Saturday's formal signing of the sisterhood agreement between Davao and San Juan, Duterte invited the young Ejercito to have a coffee at Pearl Farm Resort in nearby Island Garden City of Samal for an hour before Ejercito returns for a series of meetings with his San Juan councilors and officials in Davao City.
"Gamitin natin yung helicopter na pinahiram ni Presidente Arroyo sa akin. Tutal it's the people's money naman eh. Magkape lang tayo dun sa Pearl Farm sandali then lipad na ulit tayo dito sa Davao," Duterte told Ejercito smiling.
Ejercito meanwhile thanked Duterte for the special accommodation. The San Juan mayor said Duterte is a family friend and that their friendship goes beyond politics.
A few weeks ago, Duterte also went out of his way to accompany Joseph Estrada around Davao City for a few days. Such enthusiasm of Duterte in accommodating an important guest of the city was however not displayed when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited.
Duterte was a no-show during Arroyo's visits in the past months. The mayor, however, clarified that it just so happened that he is either out of the city or the country when the President came to Davao City.
Many observers, however, say this is just Duterte's excuse to distance himself from the President who is a known ally of Duterte's staunch political foe, Speaker Prospero Nograles.
Earlier on, Duterte said his loyalty to President Arroyo will remain only until 2010. Beyond that, he said, is another story. (BOT)
