Duterte off to Singapore for ASEAN meet

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is leaving this afternoon for Singapore for the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

The President departs from the Davao City International Airport on an eight-seater Challenger private jet. He had promised to use a smaller aircraft to save on expenses.

He is expected to return to the country also through Davao City late Saturday.

Officials in his retinue will go to Singapore on their own.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Ma. Helen de la Vega said Duterte would be attending two important engagements – the working dinner and the ASEAN leaders retreat.

The President will also have bilateral talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who chairs the ASEAN summit this year. A meeting between Duterte and the Filipino community is also being arranged.

De la Vega said the President “will work with other leaders in putting an imprint towards the realization of ASEAN Vision 2025 by identifying and prioritizing initiatives” that would help them achieve such goal.

The summit is also expected to give ASEAN leaders another opportunity to address transnational and trans-boundary issues such as terrorism, violent extremism, human trafficking, illegal drugs and disaster management.

“We can anticipate that the leaders will be tackling regional and global issues that impact on the peace and security of our region, as well as on current developments that now pose a challenge to economic integration and the promotion of a free, fair and rules-based trading regime,” De la Vega added.