Palace: Duterte wanted to attend PNoy’s wake but meeting held him up

President Rodrigo Duterte wanted to go to the wake for his predecessor, former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, but got held up in a meeting, the Palace said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President was in Manila
last week and had been meeting with Bangsamoro Region officials over the proposed extended tenure of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

"There was a personal conversation with members of the family. Noong Huwebes matapos po ang meeting namin with the BARMM officials...tinigil na nga niya iyong aming discussion at 11:00 p.m. kasi sabi niya gusto niyang pumunta doon sa lamay ni dating Presidente Noynoy Aquino. Sinabi pa niya in public, 'Noynoy was a friend, not a close friend, but a friend. I supported him in 2010 elections pero hindi ko sinuportahan iyong kaniyang successor'," Roque said.

[On Thursday we met with BARMM officials. He ended the discussion at 11 p.m. because he said he wanted to go to the wake. He said in public, "Noynoy was a friend, not a close friend, but a friend. I supported him in 2010 elections but did not support his successor."]

"So, he wanted to go, but he was informed that the urn of the former President had already been moved to the private residence in Times [Street], so hindi na po nakapunta doon si Presidente [so the President was not able to make it]," Roque added.

Roque also said the President could have skipped Aquino's funeral on Saturday to avoid crowds.

"It could be because it’s pandemic and we are trying to limit the numbers and, of course, the presence of the President would encourage crowds," he said. — BM, GMA News