Rody to watch Pacquiao fight, meet Mahathir

DAVAO CITY – It is a lean and mean team that President Duterte is bringing with him when he leaves for Kuala Lumpur today to watch the fight between boxers Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Argentine Lucas Matthysse at the Axiata Arena tomorrow.

The President is also scheduled to meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad before he returns to the country on Monday.

Earlier, it was reported a few Cabinet officials and staff would accompany Duterte on an AirAsia commercial flight from Davao City to Kuala Lumpur. The number of Presidential Security Group personnel escorting him was also reportedly reduced compared to earlier foreign trips.

However, officials confirmed yesterday afternoon that Duterte would be taking a private jet.

His trip is also considered a “working visit” since he, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano, a photographer and a cameraman, will be meeting with Mahathir.

Several senators, congressmen and local government officers are booked to watch the Pacquiao-Matthysse fight.

Pacquiao hopes to see both Duterte and Mahathir at ringside when he faces Matthysse tomorrow. No sitting Philippine president has ever watched a Pacquiao match live.

Duterte refused to reveal what he spe- cifically discussed with Mahathir when they talked over the phone before the start of the Cabinet meeting earlier this week, although he hinted that it had something to do with ISIS and terrorism.

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