MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Japan Tuesday morning to witness the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito.
Duterte’s former aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go posted on Facebook photos of their arrival in Tokyo.
The President left Davao City past 6:30 p.m. Monday for his two-day trip to Japan.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte arrived at 12:54 a.m. and was welcomed at the airport by Kazuhide Ishikawa, former Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines and Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel V.
Aside from witnessing the enthronement, Panelo said Duterte is scheduled to attend two banquets during his fourth visit to Japan.
Naruhito ascended to the throne in May but his formal enthronement is set on Tuesday, October 22.
Aside from Go, Laurel and Panelo, Duterte’s “lean” delegation is made up of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Special Envoy to Japan Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, and Chief of Presidential Protocol, and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert Borje /gsg
READ: Duterte flies to Japan for Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement