Mayor Sara accompanies Duterte for first time on foreign trip

President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. (Photo from the Presidential Photographers Division)

HAINAN, China — For the first time, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio accompanied her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, on a foreign trip.

The President touched down at the Qionghai Boao Airport at 5:55 p.m. for two-day visit to China.

Joining him on the plane were Mayor Duterte and her son Stingray.

The President is set to address fellow world leaders and business officials at the Boao Forum for Asia and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who he said he “ simply loves.”

Among the officials joining him for this visit are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato Dela Pena, and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio.

This is the President’s third visit to China, which is fast becoming one of the major sources of assistance for the Philippines.

After his China trip, he will fly to Hong Kong to meet with the Filipino community.

Other members of the President’s family – such as his partner Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña, their daughter Veronica, and his son Sebastian – had joined the him in previous foreign trips. /atm