MANILA, Philippines – Following the deadly explosion in a night market in Davao City, President Rodrigo Duterte will still push through with his upcoming foreign trips.

Rappler confirmed this with Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar also said Duterte’s trips to Brunei, Laos, and Indonesia “will push through.”

Earlier, Andanar had said Duterte initially considered cancelling one or some of his foreign trips.

“Nabanggit po ng pangulo na sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon ay ninais niya na hindi na tumuloy sa kanyang trip,” Andanar said early Saturday, September 3.

(The President mentioned that given the current situation, he wishes not to continue with his trip.)

However, Andanar himself was not certain if Duterte wished to cancel just his Brunei trip or the Laos and Indonesia ones as well.

Duterte is set to visit Brunei, his first foreign trip abroad as president, from September 4 to 5.

He is then scheduled to fly to Laos to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit from September 6 to 8. From Laos, he will fly to Indonesia where he will stay from September 8 to 9.

A few hours after the explosion in Roxas Night Market in Davao City, Duterte held an emergency command conference with city officials and law enforcement agencies.

Andanar said, “It is up to the President if he will stay in Davao City or fly back to Manila for his safety.”

The explosion killed at least 12 people and wounded at least 60 others, as of posting. Authorities have still not been able to confirm the cause of the explosion.

It occurred in a major thoroughfare, Roxas Avenue, where a night market is held every night from 6 pm to 12 midnight. – Rappler.com