Duterte meets Leni Robredo at AFP rites: I wanted to sit next to you but...

[A] Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Vice Pres. Leni Robredo attended the AFP change of command ceremony this afternoon pic.twitter.com/thdMeZwitG

— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) July 1, 2016

President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday met for the first time at the turnover rites of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Duterte and Robredo were a seat apart from each other during the ceremonies. In between them was outgoing Acting Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda.

Breaking tradition, Duterte and Robredo held separate inaugurations on Thursday. They were not able to set a meeting before they assumed office.

"This is the first time that I meet you personally," Duterte said when he acknowledged Robredo at the start of his speech.

"I would have preferred to be seated beside you but nandyan si defense, e," he added, drawing laughter and applause.

Duterte shakes hand, smiles at Robredo upon meeting pic.twitter.com/ZKkokdABUs

— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) July 1, 2016

Robredo's camp over the past weeks had been seeking an appointment from Duterte's people for the two elected officials to meet.

According to Duterte's top aide, Christopher "Bong" Go, said Duterte could have met Robredo in Davao last Friday but Robredo could not go due to a foreign trip. —NB, GMA News