With only a few days left before President-elect Rodrigo Duterte assumes office, he is definitely in the lime light everywhere. This doesn’t except his personal life even his past marriage. Elizabeth Zimmerman, Duterte’s ex-wife said in an interview with CNN that even though they ended up annulled in the year 2000, they had been good friends. They have been married for 27 years and had two children- Paolo, Sara, and Sebastian.
Their friendship had been well proved when Zimmerman, despite of her stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis last August 2015, had been in all-out support for Digong’s campaign and even spearheaded some of the tours. Not to mention her, skipping treatments just to help her ex-husband. However, according to her, Duterte returns the favor as she stated that Duterte still takes care of her. Quoting from her interview “He’s a very thoughtful person. And he’s taking care of me, even up to now. Even when he goes abroad, there’s always something for me.” It was clearly proved when Duterte took a time off from his campaign schedule to celebrate Zimmerman’s 64th birthday in Cebu last April 15. He brought her two bouquets of flowers and sang her a happy birthday. He even kissed her on the lips while the crowd cheered in delight. When asked about his wish, he said “”Good health, And may she live for a thousand years. Okay na siguro yun, 1,000 years?”
The former flight stewardess was a guest last Thursday in the opening of photo exhibit by photojournalist Rene Lumawag on Duterte. The pictures of their happy moments were included in the exhibit. Lumawag is one of the few people who has witnessed of the ex-couple’s happy years. Their children were also part of the exhibit. Among them, Sara was Duterte’s favorite according to Zimmerman. She also shared that Duterte would always take Sara’s side when in fight with her brothers even it was her fault. She was indeed a Daddy’s girl. “Si Baste o si Paolo is the one to be blamed,” Zimmerman added.
But when asked about her insight about Duterte Administration in the next six years, she said that Dutertes is his own man and doesn’t take advice. “He has his own mind and he also has his own decision. Maybe he will listen but it is always his decision,” Lastly, she was asked about Duterte’s common-law wife Honeylet Avaceña, the mother of Duterte’s 12-year old daughter Veronica, she said “We sit separately with my children and with my grandchildren so they could sit also separately,” referring to the inauguration ceremony on June 30. She added that she requested this already to the Presidential Management Staff.
This is the alleged reason why Duterte preferred to not have first lady as he officially take over as the new President of the Philippines.
Source: CNNPhilippines
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