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LOOK: Playful Duterte pretends to operate MRT-7 train

Philippines | National

LOOK: Playful Duterte pretends to operate MRT-7 train

By Ellson Quismorio

Whoever said that President Duterte doesn't know how to have fun?

(Screenshot from Facebook live)

(Screenshot from Facebook live)

The 76-year-old Chief Executive appeared to have a blast Thursday, Dec. 16 when he inspected the newly-unveiled train sets of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-7 along Commonwealth Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City.

Duterte, accompanied by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) big boss Ramon Ang, made a beeline to the driver's compartment of the train and sat on the driver's chair.

He would spend the next few minutes "operating" the train coach, pushing imaginary buttons on the controller console and pretending to pull a lever.

(Screenshot from Facebook live)

(Screenshot from Facebook live)

(Screenshot from Facebook live)

At one point, Duterte grabbed the microphone of the console and "announced" something to the people outside the train.

Duterte was the guest of honor during the unveiling of the MRT-7 trains held a few minutes earlier.

(Screenshot from Facebook live)

(Screenshot from Facebook live)

The construction of the MRT-7 is over 62 percent complete. It is expected to begin formal operations in December 2022, or six months after the end of Duterte’s term as president.

Related Tags

President Duterte Quezon City MRT-7 RAMON ANG Commonwealth trains arthur tugade fun DOTr pretending 121621 lever buttons

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