DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Duterte missed activities in Davao City on Friday night, including the concert of singer Sharon Cuneta, due to inclement weather.
Duterte attended the inauguration of the Northern Mindanao Wellness and Reintegration Center (NMWRC) in Malaybalay, Bukidnon the other night. Heavy rains fell on Malaybalay, preventing the presidential helicopter from transporting Duterte to Davao City.
“I don’t even think that I can go home by the chopper that we use. It’s what you would call an overcast everywhere. We were late for about an hour, more than even. Naghintay pa rin kami pag-landing (We were waiting for a place to land). We could not find the exact place actually,” the President said.
Duterte also said that should something happen to him, someone will surely take his place.
“Or if you are careless, maybe you want a new president. She’s also good. No problem about that. Every Filipino is always good,” Duterte said, referring to Vice President Leni Robredo.
The President instead traveled by land from Malaybalay to Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City, which took more than three hours. He arrived in Davao City by small plane from Laguindingan Airport around 2:30 a.m. yesterday.
Duterte was supposed to attend the formal opening of the Arcadia Fitness Center in Davao City and to watch Cuneta’s concert at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premiere.
The President also mentioned in his speech during the inauguration of NMWRC that he was hurrying to catch Cuneta’s concert because the singer and actress is a family friend.
The President said his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is a fan of Cuneta.
Sara and the President’s former wife Elizabeth Zimmerman attended Cuneta’s concert. The presidential daughter also tendered a dinner for Cuneta at the Matina Enclaves Residences Clubhouse Thursday night.
Sara posted on social media that she has idolized Cuneta since she was about 10 years old. Sara also asked her father to set a dinner with Cuneta for her birthday. – Christina Mendez