Duterte no-show at first flag-raising rites as chief executive

President Rodrigo Duterte was a no-show at the first flag-raising ceremony under his administration, but Malacañang said this should not be an issue for a man of action like Duterte.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella explained that Duterte snubbing his first flag-raising rites as chief executive was part of his “being low-key.”

“This is a ceremonial process. The President is a not a person who stands on ceremony. He’s really an action person but you can expect him to show up when action is really needed,” Abella said.

“Knowing his values, I don’t think it needs to be an issue because we know his priorities, and that is to act. When you need action, he will be there,” he stressed.

In his message delivered during the ceremony, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said he was requested to stand in behalf of President Duterte.

Medialdea asked the support of the staff of the Office of the President in the administration’s fight against illegal drugs and corruption.

“To help him achieve this, he needs the support of everyone, especially you in the Office of the President. I, therefore, request all of you to extend that solid support, regardless of your personal opinions and preferences. He is a good person,” Medialdea said.

President Duterte flew back to his hometown Davao City on Friday night. He went back to Manila on Monday.

Before assuming the presidency last June 30, Duterte said he wanted to travel between Manila and Davao City every day because he considered his home as his "comfort zone."

Abella could not say who was shouldering the costs for Duterte’s flights to and from Davao. “It’s being covered, I don’t know [by who].”

Meanwhile, there will also likely be less foreign trips for the President under the Duterte administration.

“He did say that he would like to spend more time first in the Philippines addressing domestic issues so maybe foreign travel is not a priority at this stage,” Abella explained. —ALG, GMA News