He couldn't afford to miss it.
After missing her proclamation, President Duterte made sure to attend the inauguration of his daughter Sara Duterte as the 15th Vice President of the Philippines, even sharing a hug on stage after the younger Duterte took her oath.
Duterte's attendance at the ceremony in San Pedro Square in Davao City coincided with Father's Day and the birth anniversary of Filipino National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, June 19.
The event also served as the outgoing President's public reunion with his first wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, the Vice President-elect's mother.
The former married couple sat beside each other in front of the stage. Zimmerman sat next to their daughter while President Duterte was seated next to his friend Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Before going to his seat, the father and daughter posed for a photo. President Duterte likewise greeted the family of his successor, President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
After an intermission number, the Chief Executive and his former wife witnessed Vice President-elect Duterte take her oath before Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando. The father and daughter shared a warm hug after the younger Duterte took her oath as the new Philippine Vice President.
The outgoing Davao City Mayor won by a majority vote in the May 2022 National and Local Elections.
Aside from serving as the next Vice President, Duterte shall also serve as the next Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary after accepting the invitation of President-elect Marcos, Jr. The Vice President-elect originally wanted to head the Department of National Defense (DND)
Apart from President Duterte and President-elect Marcos Jr., former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the First Family, several Senators and Congressmen, members of the Diplomatic Corps, local government officials, other guests, and the public form part of the crowd for the inaugural ceremony.
Duterte's reunion with his daughter was momentous after the incoming Vice President revealed that the two of them had not been speaking since August last year.
President Duterte made the same remark in an interview last year. Despite this, he still endorsed the Vice President-elect's candidacy.
Malacañang had asked the public to support Vice President-elect Duterte.