Duterte’s ex-wife wants to be seated away from Digong’s present partner

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's former wife Elizabeth Zimmerman is planning to ask the Presidential Management Staff to seat her separately from the next Chief Executive's present partner when the next Chief Executive takes his oath in Malacañang on June 30.

Zimmerman, mother of Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte, Vice Mayor Paulo Duterte and Sebastian Duterte, apparently wants to prevent any awkward moment between her and Honeylet Avanceña, GMA News' Steve Dailisan reported on "24 Oras" on Friday.

"We sit separately with my children and with my grandchildren," Zimmerman said of her request to the PMS.

She made the statement on the sidelines of a photo exhibit on Thursday of photojournalist Rene Lumawag, who has followed Duterte's storied political career.

Zimmerman said she would attend the ceremony since her children wanted her there.

Duterte and Zimmerman ended their 27-year marriage in 2000 over allegations of infidelity on the outgoing Davao City mayor's part.

During the interview, Zimmerman disclosed that Duterte was taking care of her "even up to now."

"When he goes abroad, there is always something for me," she said.

Avanceña, who has a teenage daughter with Duterte, has yet to comment on Zimmerman's statements as of posting time. —Virgil Lopez/NB, GMA News