FPRRD’s House Closed to Visitors Amid Rising Mpox Cases

THE house of former President Rodrigo Duterte at Doña Luisa Village has been closed to tourists and visitors amid rising cases of monkeypox (mpox) in Davao City.

In a resolution letter issued by the Doña Luisa Homeowners Association (HOA) to Randy Usman, who is in charge of the individuals gathering at FPRRD’s residence, the HOA stated that after careful deliberation and study of the situation in the area, they are imposing a “cease and desist” order on all activities being conducted there to prevent contamination and transmission of mpox.

“Despite our desire to protect the territory of our dearly beloved Duterte family, but as per assessment, the current situation does not warrant us to tolerate the continuation of the visitation activity for everyone’s welfare, safety, and protection,” the HOA said. 



The HOA emphasized that mpox is a serious public health concern, with cases currently being monitored at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). 

They reiterated that the measure is a precautionary step not only for the safety of residents but also for visitors who may risk contracting the virus through skin-to-skin contact.

Earlier, the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) had welcomed the idea of turning the former president’s house into a tourist attraction. Jennifer Romero, officer-in-charge of CTOO, said this initiative could help boost the city’s tourism sector.

To recall, Vice President Sara Duterte shared that she had suggested the idea of converting the house into a tourist attraction to Honeylet Avanceña, the common-law partner of her father.

The City Health Office (CHO) confirmed six cases of monkeypox in Davao City as of May 2025. Of these, four are active but in stable condition, one patient has recovered, and one has died due to complications not related to mpox.

Meanwhile, SPMC reported that they are monitoring seven patients suspected of having mpox. Of those, three have been confirmed positive based on test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila.

SPMC clarified that of the seven patients, four are from Davao City (matching the four reported by CHO), two are from Davao del Sur, and the remaining case’s location was not disclosed. Since April 10, 2025, SPMC has recorded a total of 14 patients with mpox, seven of whom have already been discharged.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mpox is an infectious disease caused by the mpox virus. Common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that gradually spreads from the face to other parts of the body. RGP