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'PUYAT NA PUYAT'

Duterte too tired to attend 119th Independence Day rites


President Rodrigo Duterte skipped his first Philippine Independence Day rites as chief executive on Monday because he was too tired for staying up late, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

"You know the President has been working 24/7, meeting the troops, meeting the commanders, and then late last night, visiting the wounded and mga namatay. So that's why this morning, he didn't feel that well," Cayetano told the media after joining Vice President Leni Robredo in the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at Rizal Park in Manila.

"Nothing to worry about, but it's better for him to rest muna this morning kasi as you know the target was to liberate Marawi today, June 12," he added.

Duterte last night went to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City for the dignified transfer of the fallen soldiers of the Philippine Marine Corps amid the ongoing clashes in Marawi City.

Prior to that, he visited wounded soldiers in Camp Evangelista Station Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City.

"Puyat na puyat at pagod," the Foreign Affairs Secretary said.

Cayetano said that he received the call from a presidential staff between around 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. to inform him about Duterte's absence.

"I talked to his people and inquired, sabi ano, 'No problem, he's okay but tired and doesn't feel that well, so better to rest,'" he added.

Malacañang earlier announced that the traditional Independence Day Vin d'Honneur was canceled to allow Duterte to attend to Mindanao matters.

"Precisely, why he's resting, at hindi siya nagpilit na magising kasi napakahirap na dalawa, tatlong oras lang tulog mo and then you're going to handle [Marawi crisis]," he said.

"Ang ano ng Pangulo is he doesn't feel like giving a toast kahit symbolic na namamatay ang mga sundalo, na iyong mga evacuees, mga displaced, nasa  probinsya, nasa tabi ng Marawi. So really intended to focus, almost a hundred percent of his time, on resolving not only the Marawi situation but also the situation in the whole Mindanao," he added.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella could not immediately give the reason for Duterte's absence.

"Wala naman binibigay na dahilan pero sa palagay lang po natin na talagang hinaharap niya--meron siyang hinaharap na mga bagay upang maayos talaga iyong hinaharap natin na challenge sa bayan," he said.

Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law on May 23 following the Maute group's attack in Marawi City.

More than 200 people have been killed and thousands have been displaced in the ongoing conflict. — ALG/RSJ, GMA News

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