Duterte to skip Japanese emperor's coronation ceremony

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to skip the enthronement ceremony of new Japanese Emperor Naruhito next month because he has a lot of work to do, his spokesman said Monday.  

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte might just send a representative to the event.

"He (Duterte) said he has so many work to do, He might be just sending somebody there," he said in a press briefing here.

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The president did not say who he would send to the ceremony, Panelo added.

Naruhito ascended to the throne last May after his father Akihito abdicated, the first by a Japanese emperor in centuries. He will be enthroned formally in elaborate ceremonies to be held on October 22.

Two years ago, Duterte met with then Japanese Emperor Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko and thanked them for visiting the Philippines during the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Philippine-Japan diplomatic ties in 2016.

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Duterte last visited Japan in May to attend the 25th Nikkei International Conference.