Duterte cancels Leyte visit

PALO, Leyte – President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday canceled his visit to this town, where he was scheduled to speak at a regional summit on peace and order before 3,000 barangay chiefs from the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte and Samar.

The village chiefs aired their disappointment over the cancellation, having traveled four hours just to attend the summit.

The President, in a message read by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, thanked the barangay leaders and assured them of his full commitment to advance the country’s common good.

Año also said he regrets the cancellation of Duterte’s visit, saying he has an equally pressing commitment.

The President’s aide, Bong Go, however, told reporters the President was “not feeling well,” but did not give any other details.—REPORTS FROM JOEY GABIETA AND JULIE M. AURELIO