Duterte to mark 74th birthday at home on Thursday

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte will mark his 74th birth anniversary on Thursday, March 28 without fanfare anew, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

As in the past, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte would spend private time at home with his family.

“The same celebration. He stays in the house and with the family,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

In 2017, Duterte marked his first birth anniversary as president in Davao City.

On the eve of his birth anniversary, he met United States Ambassador Sung Kim, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua, and Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.

In 2018, the chief executive also spent his birth anniversary in Davao City and welcomed well-wishers at home.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also sent his greetings to Duterte as he praised the former Davao City mayor  for improving Manila-Beijing ties.  / gsg