Duterte to meet kin of troops killed in clash vs Reds

President Rodrigo Duterte postponed his meeting this week with farmers in Cotabato province to visit 20 wounded soldiers and pay his respects to the families of six others killed in an encounter with communist rebels on Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the postponement had nothing to do with Mr. Duterte’s health.

“What I know is he was working the whole day yesterday, doing paperwork. Maybe he didn’t finish it. But it [the meeting with farmers] can be rescheduled,” Panelo said in a press briefing.

He added: “It has something to do with what he was doing yesterday. He was reading briefs, documents, poring over them.”

The Palace has not yet released the details of Mr. Duterte’s visit to Eastern Samar, where the soldiers had an encounter with the rebels.

Mr. Duterte is currently working at his home in Davao City after rejecting doctors’ advice that he rest.

The Palace said he would stick to his scheduled appearances here and abroad.

Mr. Duterte is expected to fly to South Korea for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea commemorative summit on Nov. 25 and 26.—JULIE M. AURELIO