Meet ‘Stonefish’: Duterte’s newest grandchild

The firebrand Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visited on Friday his newborn grandson, named "Stonefish".

The latest presidential grandson, whose real name is Marko Digong “Stonefish” Duterte Carpio, was christened in a private ceremony in Davao City, attended by the Philippine leader.

Stonefish was baptized on Thursday at the St. Francis of Assisi Paris in Maa, Davao City, witnessed by close members of the Duterte and Carpio families, as well as his godparents.

Philippine’s ex-president Joseph Estrada, now mayor of Manila, was one of several men who stood as godfathers to Stonefish.

Though Duterte did not make it to the baptism rites, held during Mass celebrated by Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Maa village, he turned up at the reception, held at the exclusive Matina Enclaves near the President’s house in Doña Luisa Subdivision

Stonefish was born on March 2.

Local media said the boy was nicknamed Stonefish because of his grandfather’s fondness for the sea. Sarah two other children are nicknamed Sharky and Stingray.

Duterte has nine other grandchildren — five of them children of his son Paolo, the vice mayor of Davao City, and two kids of his other son, Sebastian.

Official visitors in Davao

On Friday, even as he performed his grandfather duties in his home city, Duterte also met Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang in Davao. Wang is the most high-profile visitor from Beijing since two countries long at odds sought to chart a new course in relations.

Wang's visit to Davao comes two months after that of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was the first foreign leader to visit the Philippines under Duterte, signalling Tokyo's intent to bolster its influence amid a changing geopolitical landscape.

Abe brought with him a 1 trillion yen ($8.77 billion) aid package.

Wang's trip was more businesslike than that of Abe, who has a close personal bond with the firebrand Philippine leader and had breakfast in his humble Davao home.

Duterte typically spends three days each week in Davao, or more. He is there visiting his newborn grandson, who is named "Stonefish".

Duterte was also visited on Friday by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who announced a A$90 million ($69.2 million) programme to support education and policy development in Mindanao, an impoverished Muslim region in the predominantly Catholic nation.

Mindanao has been plagued by decades of separatist rebellion and the Philippines is concerned it could become a hotbed of extremism if Islamic State gains a foothold.

"Both underscored that terrorism and violent extremism are serious threats," spokesman Abella said of their meeting

source : gulfnews