DAVAO CITY -- First Congressional District Representative Paolo Z. Duterte took his oath of office for his second term as member of the Congress on Tuesday afternoon, June 28, in this city.
The lawmaker, who missed the inauguration ceremony of his sister Vice President Sara Duterte and his brother Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, took his oath before his father, President Duterte, at his (Pulong’s) residence here.
Paolo, eldest son of President Duterte with former wife Elizabeth Zimmerman, was the only re-elected representative from this city's three districts who was not around during the oath-taking attended by the first family.
No official statement was released by the Office of Rep. Duterte as to why he was not able to attend the oath-taking of his sister last June 19 and the mass oath-taking of the city officials on June 27. The lawmaker's office however released photos of the young congressman's oath-taking.
President Duterte was looking for him during Monday’s oath-taking of Mayor Baste and the city officials, including Vice Mayor Melchor Quitain Jr., Davao City Representatives Isidro Ungab Jr. (3rd District) and Vincent Garcia (2nd District), and all city councilors.
“Pag nakita ninyo siya (Rep. Paolo Duterte), pakisabi hinahanap sya ng kanyang ama,” President Duterte said in his speech during the oath-taking ceremony.
In an interview with reporters on Monday, Vice President Sara said that her older brother went on a trip and had just arrived in Davao City.
“Sa pagkaintindi ko kakarating lang nya sa Davao City (As far as I know he has just arrived in Davao City),” Vice President Sara said.
The congressman however earlier told some journalists that he wants to have a simple oath-taking with only his immediate family as witnesses.