Duterte prays for good "political weather” in coming days

As parts of the country get battered by the enhanced southwest monsoon, President Rodrigo Duterte made an entreaty for good weather, including favorable “political weather” in the coming days.

“Let us pray that the weather, the political weather, and the weather of climate change will be kind to us. Thank you very much,” Duterte said, concluding a taped Cabinet briefing Saturday.

Duterte is set to give his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Administration critics will also hold protests at the same time.

President Rodrigo Duterte has said that he is considering a vice presidential bid in 2022 to avoid being a lame duck during his last year in office.

His daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has topped recent surveys from among the possible candidates for president next year.

Earlier in his message, Duterte also expressed gratitude to health experts that lent their aid to the government.

“My papasalamat, utang na loob ko sa inyo, na tinutulungan niyo kami, lalo na ‘yung mga experts, doctors, or scientists,” he said.

The Philippines has logged 1,543,281 confirmed cases. Of this 1,461,749 have recovered and 27,131 have died.

Meanwhile, at least 14,000 people have been preemptively evacuated due to threats of flooding brought by the rains from the enhanced monsoon.—LDF, GMA News