PRRD to visit wake of slain soldiers in Eastern Samar

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has postponed his scheduled meeting with farmers in North Cotabato on Friday, as he opted to first visit the slain and wounded soldiers who engaged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in a firefight in Eastern Samar last Monday.

This was confirmed by his former long-time aide and now Senator Christopher Lawrence Go in a text message sent to Palace reporters on Thursday.

“President Rodrigo Duterte postponed his meeting with North Cotabato farmers on Friday to visit six dead and 20 wounded soldiers attacked by NPA (rebels) in Eastern Samar,” Go said.

In a media advisory sent to Palace reporters on Wednesday, Malacañang announced that Duterte will meet with farmers in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato on Friday.

The Palace also announced early Thursday morning that the tentative meeting with the farmers was rescheduled.

At least six soldiers were killed and 20 others were wounded when the NPA detonated six explosives in Pinanag-an village in Borongan City, Eastern Samar on Monday.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

Duterte busy with paperwork

Speaking to Palace reporters on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo guaranteed that Duterte’s health condition has nothing to do with his decision to reschedule his meeting with North Cotabato farmers.

The Palace official explained that the 74-year-old President was just busy attending to a lot of paperwork.

“No. It has something to do with what he was doing yesterday. He was reading briefs, documents pouring over them,” he said when asked if health concerns prompted the Chief Executive to call off the planned visit to Pigcawayan.

The public has once again raised concerns over Duterte’s health after he figured in a minor motorcycle accident in Manila on October 16, which caused “unbearable” pain in his back.

The President, however, earlier assured the nation that there was no need for him to issue a bulletin on the state of his health because he remains fit to work.

Duterte is working from his home in Davao City since Tuesday to avoid “distractions” in Manila.

Asked if the President would stay at home to continue with his unfinished paperwork, Panelo said: “Actually, nasa kanya ‘yun. Siya ang nagde-decide kung anong gustong gawin niya (Actually, it’s up to him. He will be the one to decide about the things he wants to do).

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On Wednesday, Go said the President will return to Malacañan Palace in Manila next week due to his “very busy” schedule.