(Eagle News) — Vice-President Leni Robredo led the 119th Philippine Independence day rites at the Jose Rizal monument in Rizal Park, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, in the absence of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Malacanang did not immediately say why President Duterte was not able to attend the Philippine Independence Day rites, but Cayetano said the President was not feeling well after his successive trips to various military camps in Mindanao. Duterte also went to the wake of slain soldiers on Sunday night, June 11, after leading the arrival honors for the soldiers recently killed in the Marawi fighting.
The Palace just issued a statement from President Duterte on the country’s celebration of the 119th Philippine Independence Day celebration, urging Filipinos to pay homage to the country’s heroes.
Malacanang releases President Duterte’s statement on 119th Philippine Independence Day
“I join the entire Filipino nation in celebrating the 119th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence,” the President’s statement said.
“More than a century ago, thousands have laid down their lives so that we may live with the dignity and rights befitting a free nation. The journey to freedom was a long and arduous one — which our countrymen paid for with blood, sweat and the ultimate act of selfless sacrifice. Despite the insurmountable hardships, the patriotism and undaunted spirit of the Filipino led to our triumph against the shackles of slavery and abuse,” the statement read.
“On that date, we showered our colonizers and the rest of the world what Filipinos are made of. Let us take inspiration from our forebears who valiantly fought and offered their lives so that we may have the liberties that we enjoy today,” it said.
Duterte: Preserve sovereignty
President Duterte, in his statement, then urged Filipinos to “pay homage” to the Filipino heroes’ optimism “by preserving our sovereignty and performing our own civic rights and responsibilities.”
“After all, it is our inherent duty as citizens to ensure that the Philippines fulfills its destiny as a great and prosperous nation. Mabuhay ang ating kalayaan! Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!” the President’s statement read.
On Sunday night, June 11, the Presidential Communications office said President Duterte led the arrival honors for the soldiers killed in the Marawi fighting at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
The President came from Cagayan de Oro City where he visited government troopers wounded in action in the Marawi City fighting.
President Duterte arrived at the Air Base grandstand around 7:50 p.m. Sunday where he personally condoled with the families of the slain soldiers.
The bodies of the slain Marines were flown to Manila from Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday afternoon.
Upon the arrival of the President, the metal caskets covered with the Philippine flag, were carried by soldiers out of the C-130 plane and were placed on high-lift ramps in front of the grandstand.
Duterte then proceeded to the Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio to visit the wake of another two soldiers who were also killed in action in Marawi.
The two were Corporal Romula Garcia and Private First Class Eddie Cardona Jr. whose remains lie in state at the Acero Hall inside the Philippine Marine Headquaters.
The President’s last stop was at the Libingan ng mga Bayani where he paid his last respects to Corporal Reymond Paracuelles, who was killed on June 9 during a firefight with members of Maute group.
