President Rodrigo Duterte was absent at his first Independence Day rites as president at the Rizal Park on Monday morning.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano led the flag-raising and wreath-laying in Jose Rizal’s monument on Duterte’s behalf. Cayetano was joined by Vice President Leni Robredo.
The Office of the President requested Cayetano to represent Duterte at the rites because the president was too tired after visiting troops who were wounded in the fighting in Marawi and attending the transfer ceremony for eight slain marines from the city to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, according to the secretary.
Present at the ceremony were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairman Rene Escalante, Manila Mayor and former President Joseph Estrada, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Tourism Promotions Board chief operating officer Cesar Montano, United States Ambassador Sung Kim and Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev.
photo credit: Trisha Macas
