Nagpaliwanag ang Malacañang sa hindi pagdalo ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa AFP Change of Command Ceremony sa Kampo Aguinaldo ngayong hapon.
Sa okasyon, pormal nang manunumpa bilang bagong AFP Chief of Staff si Lt. Gen. Noel Clement kapalit ng magreretirong si Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr.
Sinabi ni Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, sumama ang pakiramdam ni Pangulong Duterte sa aniya’y “punishing schedule” at social events na dinaluhan nito sa mga nagdaang araw.
Ayon kay Sec. Panelo, kaya minabuti ni Pangulong Duterte na magpahinga na lamang at makarekober kaagad.
Si Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana ang inatasan ni Pangulong Duterte na kinatawan niya at magbabasa sa kanyang mensahe.
Kanina, kinumpirma ni Sec. Panelo na dumalo si Pangulong Duterte sa “surprise birthday party” na inihanda ng kanyang pamilya at inabot ito ng madaling sa sayawan at kantahan.
“The Palace wishes to announce that the President opted not to attend the Change of Command Ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo today, September 24, 2019, and instead designated Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana to represent him in the event,” ani Sec. Panelo. “The punishing schedule of official and social events the previous days has slightly affected the President’s body temperature. He opted to rest so he can be in his usual healthy self in no time.”
