Duterte joins 2017 PMA homecoming

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City–President Rodrigo Duterte was given arrival honors by cadets of the Philippine Military Academy as he made his first official visit here during its 2017 alumni homecoming on Saturday (Feb. 18).

Duterte, wearing a black leather jacket, marched through a row of cadets at 9: 33 a.m.

A crowd composed of active and inactive military and police officials, and their children, gathered at the sidelines to watch the President.

Duterte arrived in Baguio on Friday night (Feb. 17), but arrived half an hour late here for the homecoming program.

He is an adopted member of PMA Class of 1967 but is scheduled to be elevated to honorary member of the PMA Alumni Association Inc in ceremonies at midday.

PMA Hinirang Class of 1987 is lead host class of this year’s homecoming.

Alumni members were at PMA as early as 6 a.m., and were touring the facilities along with their families.

Many also reconnected with former classmates or “Mistahs.”

Last year, 1,912 graduates of the academy joined the 2016 homecoming. Because it was an election year, alumni officials issued guidelines prohibiting any form of campaigning in last year’s reunion. CDG