Duterte skips Pampanga fiesta visit due to bad weather

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday canceled his scheduled visit to a fiesta in Lubao, Pampanga due to bad weather.

Initially, Duterte’s official schedule said he would attend the afternoon fiesta activities of the San Agustin parish in Lubao, Pampanga as invited by former president and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. However, Presidential Protocol Office chief Marciano Paynor said the president was prompted to cancel his trip since the chopper could not take off due to bad weather.

Paynor said the Philippine Air Force's 250th Presidential Airlift Wing recommended to the president to no longer proceed due to safety issues.

"Our information is that the ceiling, meaning the clouds, are very low only at 400 feet somewhere south of here and a little north of Manila. It's still raining a little hard along the way. The helicopters will not be able to make it safely," Paynor said in a recorded ambush interview.

Paynor, however, said Duterte promised Arroyo that he would visit her town another time. He said Duterte sent Arroyo a text message that he would come back "when the weather is much clearer and better."

Last Thursday, Duterte also called off his scheduled activities citing migraine and spinal problem.