MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang defended President Rodrigo Duterte over photos and a video that surfaced of his 76th birthday celebration on Sunday. "I don’t think the President ever pretended to be poor. That is why he did not have guests on his birthday," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday. The same photographs showed Duterte, wearing a shirt and shorts, blowing out a candle placed on top of a cup of rice. He has simple celebrations and I think that’s what happened on his birthday," he added.

Source: Philippine Star March 29, 2021 03:45 UTC