PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will skip the ceremony in Caloocan City commemorating revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio's 155th birth anniversary, Malacañang announced Friday, November 30.

Duterte was initially scheduled to lead the flag-raising ceremony and offer a wreath at the Bonifacio National Shrine in Caloocan City on Friday afternoon.

Citing reason for Duterte's absence at the commemoration rites of the fallen Katipunan leader, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Chief Executive needs to go to Mindanao to deal with the insurgency in the war-torn region.

"He (Duterte) has to fly to Mindanao to attend to the problem of insurgency in Mindanao," Panelo said in a text message sent to Palace reporters.

Panelo said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea would attend the commemoration rites at the Bonifacio monument on Duterte's behalf.

Duterte likewise missed the commemoration of the 154th anniversary of Bonifacio in 2017. (SunStar Philippines)