Vice President Leni Robredo led the 119th Independence Day celebrations on Monday as President Rodrigo Duterte skipped the event.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano said the President was not feeling well because he has been working hard the past few days in a bid to liberate Marawi City from the Maute group.

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There were initial plans to raise the Philippine flag on Independence Day in Marawi City where intense fighting between government forces and the Maute group are ongoing. But Cayetano said the situation is “complex.”

READ: Gov’t to raise flag in Marawi by June 12

Cayetano attended the Independence Day celebration at Rizal Park as Duterte’s representative while Robredo led the flag-raising and wreath-laying activities.

The event started past 8 a.m. and was attended by members of the Cabinet, members of the diplomatic corps and the public.

There was a moment of silence for the situation in Marawi. JPV

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