Duterte to miss granddaughter's debut tonight
Updated 14:53 PM PHT Fri, January 19, 2018
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19) — Isabelle Duterte's highly-anticipated debut is happening on Friday night, but her grandfather, President Rodrigo Duterte won't be around.
Duterte is missing his granddaughter's debut at the Peninsula Manila Hotel tonight as he spends the day in Davao City.
The debut will kickoff at 4:30 p.m., and guests are advised to come in all-black formal attire, according to the unique video card invitation.
Isabelle is the daughter of the President's eldest son and former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo.
The Presidential granddaughter's 18th birthday sparked conversations online after her glamorous photoshoot at the Malacañang Palace.
READ: Palace defends Duterte granddaughter's Malacañang photoshoot
The photos featured Isabelle wearing different dresses, posing around the official residence of the President. Some of the photos showed the presidential seal in the background.
The disrespect for the Presidential Seal, the Philippine Flag, in the name of #Duterte granddaughter's debut photo shoot, takes the cake. What a year, Pilipinas. The worst of times. #Dutertelitista #Dutertelitismo pic.twitter.com/wHaqhFQ8qC
— kstuartsantiago (@radikalchick) December 15, 2017
Executive Order No. 310 limits the exclusive use of the presidential seal to represent the President of the Philippines "except as otherwise provided by law or Presidential issuance."
This is one of the reasons for the ensuing online criticism of the shoot, but the Palace, the photographer, and Presidential Communications Operations Office Asec. Mocha Uson defended Isabelle's activity.
READ: Mocha, photog defend Duterte granddaughter's Malacañang pictorial