BALO-I (Philippines): The vice-president of the Philippines expressed hope for a swift end to an urban siege by rebels, and offered support to displaced civilians during a visit normally conducted by a president not seen in public for six days.
The trip by Leni Robredo to an evacuation centre in Balo-i for residents who escaped a month-long conflict in nearby Marawi City adds to speculation about the health of 72-year-old President Rodrigo Duterte, whose absence this month from the public eye is the longest since he took office a year ago.