President Duterte will head back to Manila Sunday night following his visit to Jolo, Sulu which was rocked by two bombings last week.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque bared the President’s itinerary after confirming Duterte offered his sympathies to some of the blast victims during his trip to Jolo Sunday.
"This is to confirm that PRRD visited Jolo, condoled with some of the victims of the latest blast, and conferred with the mayor. He is expected back in Manila tonight," Roque said in a message to reporters.
Prior to his Jolo visit, Duterte has been staying in his hometown Davao City since early August.
On Monday, the President is expected to meet with several Cabinet members at the Malago clubhouse inside Malacañang Park on the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The fresh quarantine classification of the country will be announced by the President in a public address afterwards.
On Sunday afternoon, the President announced his planned visit to the site of the August 24 twin explosions in Jolo. Duterte, in his brief message during an online concert held in his honor, also wanted to show respect to the government troops slain in the blasts as part of his duty as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The President was already inside an airplane when he made the video call during the concert aired on Facebook.
Under heavy security, the President delivered an address before the government troops at Camp Teodulfo Baustista, headquarters of Joint Task Force Sulu, in a town in Jolo based on the photos released by his former aide and now Senator Christopher Go. He also met with the soldiers who were hurt during the blast. The Palace has yet to release the video of the President's remarks.
Duterte, who wore a mark, a cap and dark shades, was accompanied by Go and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana during the Jolo visit.
Two explosions, suspected to be carried out by suicide bombers, hit a district in Jolo last Monday, killing 15 people and wounding several others. Eight soldiers and a policemen were among the fatalities.
Malacañang has denounced the dastardly attacks and promised to bring the culprits to the bar of justice.