[“We join all our countrymen in wishing our beloved President Rodrigo Roa Duterte a happy 77th birthday on March 28,” acting presidential spokesman and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement. “President Duterte will mark the occasion with a simple and quiet celebration in Davao City, in line with his family’s tradition.”(Photo by Simeon Celi, Jr/ Presidential Photo)]

MANILA: President Duterte will have a “simple” and “quiet” birthday celebration with his family in his hometown Davao City today, Malacañang said yesterday. The Chief Executive turns 77. “We join all our countrymen in wishing our beloved President Rodrigo Roa Duterte a happy 77th birthday on March 28,” acting presidential spokesman and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement, PhilStar reported.

“President Duterte will mark the occasion with a simple and quiet celebration in Davao City, in line with his family’s tradition.” Duterte’s birthday wish, according to Andanar, is to have “a clean, fair, and honest election in May 2022.” Andanar said the President has time and again underscored the importance of a peaceful transfer of power as part of his enduring legacy. “Our prayer for the Almighty is to continue giving the President good physical and mental health in the years to come so he may carry on serving the interest of and bringing betterment to the lives of Filipinos,” he added.

Malacañang also expressed its “sincerest gratitude” to the Chief Executive “whose strong and decisive leadership and genuine compassion for every Filipino have inspired officials in government.”