Seated front row, second and third from left, President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo attend the graduation rites of the PNPA in Silang, Cavite, on March 21, 2018. INQUIRER.NET / JHOANNA BALLARAN
CAMP CASTAÑEDA, Silang, Cavite — For the third time in four days, President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo again shared the same stage on Wednesday when they led the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) graduation rites here.
Duterte, who arrived two hours late, was the guest of honor at the PNPA’s 39th Commencement Exercises of the Magiting at Responsableng Alagad ng Batas na Gagabay sa Transpormasyong Alay sa Bayang Sinilangan (Maragtas) Class 2018.
He awarded the Presidential Kampilan honor to Police Cadet Fritz John Napalinga Vallador while Robredo conferred the Vice President Kampilan award to Cadey Francis Pang-ay Fagkang.
Vallador is the batch’s valedictorian while Fagkang is Top 2.
Duterte and Robredo sat beside each other.
In his speech, Duterte addressed Robredo as “my lady.”
“This is the third time that we’re together [this year], my lady,” Duterte said.
“Sana may isa pang graduation para magkasama tayo,” he added.
(I hope there’s another graduation so we’ll get together again.)
The country’s top two leaders first attended an official event together last Sunday, during graduation rites at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City.
It was followed on Tuesday night when they attended the anniversary celebration of the Philippine Army in Taguig City.
Duterte and Robredo sharing the same stage had become rare since policy differences put a strain on their political relations.
Robredo, chairperson of the opposition Liberal Party, quit her Cabinet post in December 2016. She has criticized the human rights violations linked to Duterte’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs. /cbb/kga
READ: Duterte, Robredo together again at PMA rites