DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Less than two weeks before President-elect Rodrigo Duterte takes office, more diplomats based in Manila visited him in Davao, a city fast becoming a new center of power in the Philippines.

Duterte on Monday, June 20, received the ambassadors of Spain, Pakistan, and the European Union in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Depot Compound in Panacan, Davao City, the so-called Malacañang of the South.

Malacañang is the office of the Philippine president in Manila. For the first president from Mindanao, the DPWH compound in Panacan practically serves the purpose of Malacañang in receiving VIPs, at least before he takes his oath as president on June 30.

In this place also dubbed as Panacañang, Duterte on Monday received Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Calvo and Consul Francisco Lon at 3:30 pm.

An hour later, at 4:30 pm, he entertained Pakistani Ambassador to the Philippines Safdar Hayat and Third Secretary Taimur Zulfiqar.

Then, at 4:47 pm, the President-elect met with EU Ambassador Franz Jessen and his public relations officer, Thelma Gecolea.

Previous meetings with ambassadors

Exactly a week ago, on June 13, Duterte also received the ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany in another set of courtesy calls before he formally becomes Philippine president. 

Previously, he also met with the Chinese ambassador in visits aimed at improving relations between Manila and Beijing. 

While receiving ambassadors, however, the tough-talking President-elect is also known for making negative statements about other countries. 

Before winning the presidency, Duterte warned that he is prepared to cut diplomatic ties with the United States and Australia after their ambassadors criticized his joke about the jailhouse rape of a missionary.

On June 2, he also cursed the United Nations for failing to solve the conflict in the Middle East and not helping the “black people” in Africa. – Rappler.com