President Rodrigo Duterte did not attend the wake or inurnment of his predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, who died on June 24 and was laid to rest on Saturday. ADVERTISEMENTDuterte, who declared a 10-day period of national mourning over the death of the former president, sent flowers to Aquino’s wake at the Church of the Gesu inside Ateneo de Manila University on Friday. His official schedule released by Malacañang that day did not include a visit to the wake. According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Duterte wanted to go to Heritage Park on Thursday where Aquino’s remains were first brought for cremation. Roque said he had no occasion to meet Duterte in person and was not privy to his activities on Friday and Saturday.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 26, 2021 21:45 UTC