Duterte’s neighbor of 20 years is one of 600 guests at inauguration

By sheer proximity to and good relations with the Duterte family for the last 20 years, one of the former Davao mayor's neighbors was included in the 600 people on President Rodrigo Duterte's inaugural guest list.

Pomilda "Inday" Daniel, Duterte's neighbor of 20 years, told Mariz Umali on Thursday that her neighbor joked about her moving to a bigger house in December but ended up moving to the biggest house of them all upon his win.

"Biniro pa nga niya ako eh. Sabi niya pa, last December sabi niya 'pag ano daw, mag-lipat na daw ako sa malalaking subdivision. Sabi ko, 'di. Ngayon pala, siya pala lilipat ng Malacañang," she recalled.

"Biniro pa nga niya 'yung TV kong malaki. Sabi niya, masira 'yan. Ayusin ko 'yan para meron rin ako," Daniel added.

Daniel said she was used to handing casseroles to Duterte's partner Honeylet and joking with Duterte that she had a bigger house than the former Davao mayor.

They were so close that Daniel was privy to a hidden side of Duterte—friendly, humble, playful, and a keen supporter of House of Hope, a transient home for children with cancer. 

"Ang weakness talaga niya 'yung mga batang maliliit, lalo na 'yung may sakit. Meron talaga siyang, talagang umiiyak siya... May isang bahay siya, dinonate na lang niya talaga sa survivor na patient," Daniel said.

Though she did not expect her neighbor to be elected president, recent events convinced her that this was the road Duterte was meant to walk.

"Masaya ako para sa kanya kasi talagang destiny niya maging presidente. Kasi sabi ko, mula sa Mindanao naging presidente at hindi na 'yun mauulit yata. Siya lang talaga," Daniel said.

Regardless of how his term ends up, Daniel is quite glad that her good old neighbor remembered their friendship.

"Masaya. At least nabigyan tayo ng privilege at naalala niya 'yung kapitbahay niya," Daniel said. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News