Duterte to spend Holy Week in Davao City

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the 31st Annual Convention of the Prosecutor’s League of the Philippines at the Asturias Hotel in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on April 4, 2019. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte will be spending the Holy Week with his family in his hometown, Davao City, his spokesperson said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President usually spends holidays and other special occasions with his family and the Holy Week is no different.

“Birthdays, holidays palagi siyang nasa kaniyang bahay at kasama niya ang kaniyang pamilya (he would always spend holidays in his home with his family),” Panelo said in an interview over DZMM.

On March 28, Duterte celebrated his 74th birthday with his family in Davao City. He also travels to his hometown during weekends.

Duterte, however, made an exemption in 2017 when he visited three Middle Eastern countries — Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar –during the Holy Week to meet with state leaders and the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.

Despite his personal tiff with the Catholic Church, the President has acknowledged Holy Week as a time to “rekindle” religious fervor and “cherish” traditions as pious people.

Malacañang has declared April 18 (Maundy Thursday) and April 19 (Good Friday) as regular holidays and April 20 (Black Saturday) as a special non-working day.

Holy Week is when Christians remember all the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and to the celebration of his resurrection on Easter Sunday.