Duterte skipping PDP-Laban assembly — Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte  (Photo from an RTVM video posted on Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will not attend the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan’s (PDP-Laban) assembly scheduled this Monday, Malacañang said.

This, despite the President himself ordering PDP-Laban vice chairman and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to convene the party.  

“Hindi po included sa official schedule,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing when asked if Duterte, the party chairman, would attend the assembly.

(It’s not included in his official schedule.)

“I have no idea other than he’s got a full schedule also in [the] Palace. As you know, the afternoons are fully booked,” Roque replied, when asked why the President won’t attend the party meeting.

The PDP-Laban’s acting president, Senator Manny Pacquiao earlier discouraged members from attending the assembly called by Cusi.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

Amid the seeming rift within the party, Roque said he thought it is “enough that the President signed in writing a memorandum authorizing Secretary Cusi to call the meeting today and made me announce it yesterday.”

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