Well wishes for President Duterte
President Duterte marked his 72nd birthday in Davao City yesterday, far from the political noise, without much fanfare, and surrounded by the love of his family and friends.
“Maayos naman,” Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a Palace press briefing when asked how the President was on his birthday.
“I’m not privy to his (plans). It’s usually a very quiet affair with family and friends – very simple, something that suits his personality,” he added.
The President’s children and allies have poured birthday wishes to the President, from good health to strength, and pledged support for his presidency.
Advancing the peace process in Mindanao was the consensus reached during President Duterte’s recent meeting with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Nur Misuari in Davao City.
The President had a “warm” and “cordial” conversation with Misuari about the peace efforts at the Presidential guesthouse in Davao City last Monday, his spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
“This was a close-in meeting, all right. Basically, it was a reaffirmation of the importance of securing just and lasting peace and development for Mindanao,” Abella said. “It was warm, cordial, positive,” he added.
Duterte was seen embracing Misuari like a brother during the meeting based on a photo released by Malacañang. Misuari was accompanied by his wife Madam Tarhata and son Abdulkarim.
Prior to his meeting with Misuari, the President admitted that he talked to Misuari last Thursday about the proposal to introduce federalism in the country this year. “We are talking, we are crafting a sort of a preparatory document so that we can go into the process of proposing the federal structure,” he said.
Duterte has strongly pushed for a shift to federal form of government to help end the armed struggle in the south. He has offered to cut short his six-year term once the federalparliamentary system of government is adopted.
The last time Duterte and Misuari met was in November, 2016, at the Palace. At that time, Misuari promised to cooperate with the Duterte government’s peace initiatives in Mindanao.
The former ARMM governor was likewise grateful to Duterte for facilitating his freedom after the court suspended the arrest warrant issued against him. Misuari has long been wanted for the deadly Zamboanga siege in 2013.