Duterte shares Robredo’s grief over death of her mother

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday expressed his condolences to Vice President Leni Robredo on the death of her mother Salvacion Santo Tomas Gerona last week.

“I’d like to say now that I’m sad and I share her grief. I also lost a father once upon a time,” Duterte said in an ambush interview.

Duterte added he would visit the wake if ever he would have the time, but he said he had already sent flowers to the Robredo family.

“If I ever have time… I just came in from Davao. But I sent my… I conveyed my condolences and… flowers. It’s in our culture. We do it with flowers,” Duterte said.

Gerona, an English teacher by profession, died last Feb. 22 at the age of 83.

READ: Vice President Robredo’s mother passes away at 83

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier said he would personally go to Gerona’s wake instead since the Presiden who had “a lot of work to do.”

READ: Duterte wants to visit wake of Robredo’s ma ‘but he has a lot of work to do’ – Palace

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