Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 21)— Vice President Sara Duterte will be heading to Japan next week to attend the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Duterte made the announcement on her social media page on Wednesday — the same day she met with Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa.
“Inihayag ni Ambassador Koshikawa ang kanyang paunang pasasalamat sa aking nakatakdang pagbisita sa Japan sa susunod na linggo para sa state funeral ni yumaong [P]rime Minister Shinzo Abe,” Duterte wrote.
[Translation: Ambassador Koshikawa expressed gratitude for my scheduled visit to Japan next week for the state funeral of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.]
The Vice President added she will be bringing letters of condolences from her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, as well as current Philippine leader Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Abe — Japan’s longest-serving prime minister — died in July after being shot while giving a public campaign speech. The Japanese government announced that a state funeral for the slain official will take place on Sept. 27.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to confirm and provide details about Duterte’s trip.
