Duterte says he will attend Japan emperor’s enthronement

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said that he will attend the enthronement of the new Japanese emperor after all, after Malacañang earlier said that he would not be going.

Japan is set to hold a grand ceremony for the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito on October 22.

The Palace previously said Duterte would not be able to attend the event because he has “too many works to do.”

However, the President seems to have had a change of heart.

“You know, Japan has… Well, one of the countries na talagang tumutulong sa atin, nauuna pa. And [it’s] just my personal feeling na, my sentiment, that I should be there even just for a half a day or… But very lean,” he said in a press conference after his return from an official visit to Russia.

“Tutal ako lang man siguro ang iniimbita. Hindi na ako magdala nang maraming tao. There’s nothing to discuss there except to be a witness to the enthronement of the new Emperor.”

Naruhito, who succeeded to the title after his father Akihito's abdication in April, will ascend to the throne in front of an expected 195 dignitaries. —Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News