Duterte in Singapore and Papua New Guinea
President Rodrigo Duterte decided to stay in Papua New Guinea to attend the remaining Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings even after it was previously confirmed that he would cut his trip short.
President Rodrigo Duterte will skip the gala dinner at the ASEAN Summit in Singapore so he can rest, the Palace says in a statement.
"Last night, the president worked late and had only less than three hours of sleep," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo says.
"We find it amusing that some quarters are making a big fuss of the President’s skipping a few meetings in today's ASEAN Related Summits," he also says, pointing out that Duterte had attended the ASEAN-China Summit, the Signing Ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding between the Eurasian Economic Commission and ASEAN on Economic Cooperation. Furthermore, and a bilateral meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee.
Panelo says the president was taking power naps during the events he missed.
"We assure the nation that his aforementioned absence has nothing to do with his physical health and well-being which have been the subject of speculation," he also says.
It is yet unclear whether President Rodrigo Duterte will attend a gala dinner hosted by Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong.
The president, who is in Singapore for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, missed the ASEAN-Australia Informal Breakfast Summit and ASEAN-Korea Summit earlier Wednesday. He also missed a working lunch also hosted by PM Lee.
There is no advise yet if President Duterte will be attending the gala dinner hosted by PM Lee Hsien Loong At #ASEAN2018. Duterte slipped the RCEP meeting, the fourth event he skipped today. pic.twitter.com/aHIyhXM0KV
— christina mendez (@xtinamen) November 14, 2018
Duterte attended the ASEAN-China summit, where he spoke as country coordinator for the ASEAN-China Dialogue.
The president has skipped ASEAN events in the past and it is not uncommon for him to miss an event during official trips abroad. In 2017, when the summit was held in Manila, he skipped the ASEAN-UN Summit. The Palace said back-to-back meetings had gone on longer than expected.
President Rodrigo Duterte will reiterate the Philippines' “principled positions” concerning the West Philippine Sea at the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, the Philippine News Agency reports.
ASEAN leaders pose for souvenir foto at 2018 ASEAN summit here in SG pic.twitter.com/FTlxbA05ss
— christina mendez (@xtinamen) November 13, 2018
In a statement quoted in the PNA report, the Palace says Duterte will also talk about Philippine positions on "transnational and transboundary issues such as terrorism, violent extremism, trafficking in persons, illicit drugs and disaster risk reduction and management."
President Rodrigo Duterte has arrived in Singapore, where he will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summits.
Duterte arrives Singapore to attend the 33rd ASEAN summit & related summits(RTVM) pic.twitter.com/oFrFq8Phvv
— christina mendez (@xtinamen) November 12, 2018
The president is also flying to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea on Thursday for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting.
He is expected to express support for micro, small and medium enterprises and multilateral trade. Before attending the APEC Leaders' Meeting, Duterte will meet with the Filipino community in Port Moresby. Papua New Guinea hosts about 40,000 Filipino workers and over 200 Philippine companies.
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