President rushes to attend wake of slain soldiers

Six soldiers were killed in an encounter with rebels here.

The rescheduling of a meeting with farmers in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, had nothing to do with President Rodrigo Duterte’s health condition.

In a text message to Malacañang reporters, Senator Bong Go said President Duterte postponed his Thursday meeting with the farmers to visit the wake of six dead soldiers and check on the 20 others who were wounded after they were attacked by suspected New People’s Army rebels in Borongan City, Eastern Samar, late Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo also said during Thursday’s media briefing that the President busied himself with paperworks while in Davao.

“What I know is that yesterday he worked with his papers the whole day reading it. But he can re-schedule it (meeting),” Panelo said. “It is still there but it was only rescheduled.”

When asked if the Chief Executive has other scheduled visits outside Mindanao in the coming days, Panelo said he is not aware of any.

However, Panelo insisted that the rescheduling had nothing to do with the Chief Executive’s health and that any plans for him to leave Davao City rest solely on him.

“He will decide on what he wants to do,” Panelo said.