Duterte to grace send-off

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte is being eyed to grace the traditional sendoff ceremony of the national delegation headed for the 18th Asian Games.

Deputy chief of mission Robert Bachmann said they have tentatively set the send-off at Malacanang on 13 Aug., three days before the bulk of the national contingent flies to Jakarta for Asia’s biggest, most prestigious athletic gathering.

This will be the first major tournament under Ricky Vargas after winning the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee over Jose “Peping” Cojuangco in a court-ordered election last February.

And – if plans do not miscarry – it will be the President who will deliver word of encouragement to Filipino athletes.

“That’s the plan,” said Bachmann, the trusted deputy of chief of mission Richard Gomez.

“We’re planning to hold the send-off at Malacanang. I hope the President is there to motivate and encourage our athletes.”

The last time the President faced the Filipino athletes was last year before they embarked on the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

He also honored the national athletes in a send-off ceremony in Malacanang before the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

The President’s act is contrary to that of his predecessor, former President Noynoy Aquino, who never opened the doors of the Palace to the athletes in his six-year term despite being a nephew of Cojuangco.

But Bachmann would not be around during the send-off. “I will fly to Jakarta on the 8th together with some members of the secretariat to attend the DRM (delegation registration meeting) on the 9th,” he said.