Speaker to join separate delegation to Moscow

MOSCOW – The high-level delegation accompanying President Duterte  on his four-day official visit to Russia does not include Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

Alvarez explained that he has a separate invitation from the Russian Congress and could not possibly be with Duterte in his official visit here. Alvarez would be going with a separate legislative delegation to Russia at a later date.

His former close friend, Davao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr., is with the President, joining former House speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Reps. Harry Roque and Rodolfo Albano III in the Philippine congressional delegation.

Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas clarified that the House of Representatives has not provided funds for the four members.

Alvarez and Floirendo used to be buddies until the Speaker called for an investigation on the government contract with the Floirendo-owned Tagum Agricultural Development Corp. for the lease of a large Bureau of Corrections property it uses as a banana plantation in northern Davao. Alvarez described the deal as onerous and disadvantageous to government.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III had also been listed among the delegates but was not on PAL flight PR001 that took Duterte and his group on a 13-hour direct flight from Davao City to Moscow.

Duterte asked 16 of his 23 Cabinet secretaries to join him in the trip. They are  Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who was previously left in Manila to serve as the government’s caretaker; and Secretaries Alan Peter Cayetano (foreign affairs), Carlos Dominguez III (finance), Vitaliano Aguirre II (justice), Emmanuel Piñol (agriculture), Mark Villar (public works), Delfin Lorenzana (defense), Paulyn Jean Ubial (health), Ramon Lopez (trade), Wanda Teo (tourism), Arthur Tugade (transportation), Fortunato dela Peña (science), Alfonso Cusi (energy), Ernesto Pernia (economic development) and Martin Andanar (communications).

Also joining Duterte are chief presidential counsel Salvador Panelo, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., special assistant Christopher Lawrence Go, Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, former Senate president Manuel Villar Jr. and former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Singson.

Blogger and assistant communications secretary Mocha Uson is also in the presidential entourage. In her Facebook post, Uson said since Malacañang chartered the large PAL plane, it might as well be packed so it would be worth the cost. She did not say how much taxpayers were paying for the trip, including accomodations.

Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Duterte will see Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev today at the Reception House of the Government of the Russian Federation for a bilateral meeting and for expanded talks together with their respective government officials.

Tomorrow, Duterte will meet with President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin – official residence of the president of the Russian Federation – where they are to have a restricted talk. It would be followed by an official luncheon and expanded meeting together with the officials of their respective governments.

Both leaders are expected to sign several agreements to deepen cooperation between the Philippines and Russia. They are also expected to hold a joint press conference.

Also part of the President’s itinerary is the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Aleksandrovsky Sad and the delivery of a policy speech after he receives an honorary doctorate at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. 

Duterte will also go for a roundtable meeting with top Russia businessmen and a forum with the Philippine-Russia business groups.

His Moscow visit will be capped by a meeting with the Filipino community at Tesla Place. There are around 5,000 Filipinos based in Russia. – With Jess Diaz, Cecille Suerte Felipe