Duterte aborts camp visit anew

WAITING FOR DIGONG Bored Army Scout Rangers in theirmuddied and worn out boots await the arrival of President Duterte at Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan province, only to be told the commander in chief could not come because of bad weather. PHOTOS BY JOAN BONDOC

Camp Tescon, San Miguel, Bulacan—President Rodrigo Duterte did not show up for his scheduled talk with scout rangers at Camp Tecson in Bulacan, the second time he skipped his trip to this military facility.

Mr. Duterte was scheduled to arrive at the military camp at 2 p.m., but the Presidential Security Group (PSG) informed camp officials past 3 p.m. that his trip would not push through due to the inclement weather. The President would be unable to fly to the area because of the zero visibility in the air, according to PSG officials.

When the postponement of the President’s visit was announced, members of the First Scout Ranger Regiment from the Philippine Army were already at the covered court waiting for him. They had already practiced their movements for their photo opportunity with the commander in chief.

Mr. Duterte was supposed to have a situation briefing before addressing the troops.

This is the second time Mr. Duterte had to scrap his visit to the Bulacan military camp. He was supposed to visit it on July 26 after his trip to Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. But his Nueva Ecija visit lasted until late in the afternoon, leaving him with no time to fly to Bulacan.

On July 28, he also cancelled a visit to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, because his visit to Camp Nakar in Quezon on the same day ran late.

Mr. Duterte had been going around military camps in the previous weeks, assuring soldiers that he would give them what they need and enlisting their support in his plans for the government.

His charm offensive on members of the military comes as his administration pursues peace talks with communist and Islamic secessionist rebels.  The President is also under fire from local and international organizations, including the United Nations, for violating the Philippine Constitution’s guarantees of due process and equality under the law in his bloody war on drugs.