President Rodrigo Duterte was absent at the flag-raising ceremony in Luneta marking the 119th anniversary of the Philippine Independence Day on Monday morning.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano represented the President.
Cayteno said, the Chief Executive slept late last night after attending the wakes of soldiers who died in the fighting in Marawi City.
Vice President Leni Robredo attended the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites in Luneta.
Also joining her and Cayetano were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairman Rene Escalante and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.
United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and Russian Ambassador Igot Khovaev were among the members of the Diplomatic Corps who showed up.
This was supposed to be Duterte’s first Independence Day ceremony as President.