Duterte won't attend EDSA People Power rites

President Rodrigo Duterte is not going to attend the 31st anniversary rites of the EDSA People Power Revolution, according to the program released by Malacañang.

The program showed that Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea would be the guest of honor at the commemoration of the 1986 People Power Revolution to be held at Camp Aguinaldo on Friday.

During the briefing about the EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary on Tuesday, Malacañang officials could not confirm Duterte's attendance at the event.

But EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) vice chairperson Joey Concepcion said that Duterte's absence should not mean that the event is not important to him.

"I don’t think so. I mean, if his schedule is busy, he has a reason that he can’t attend. Many people will be attending, the Executive Secretary will be there," he said.

"And it doesn’t mean that he will never attend any event. It just happens that, as I said, there are just so many things that are happening in country today. And as a host of the ASEAN and many other pressing concerns," he added.

"So next year, I’m sure we will have the President there ‘no. So let’s be patient ‘no."

Moreover, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that Duterte's close ties with the family of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos is not the reason why Malacañang chose to have a simpler EDSA People Power Revolution commemoration.

"I don't think so. It’s really more of a time to reflect that’s why we’re doing this as simple as possible," he said in a press briefing.

Duterte's father used to be a member of Marcos' Cabinet, while his mother, Soledad, led the Yellow Friday movement against the regime in Davao.

Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza in a statement said that Duterte is expected to lead the re-launch of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) efforts in Davao City on Friday.

"On the Bangsamoro peace table, he [Duterte] also viewed with positive note the forthcoming launching on February 24 of the renewed effort to implement the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. He will preside over the big event on Friday in Davao City," he said. —JST, GMA News