Tired Duterte misses 3 ASEAN side meetings

SINGAPORE – Citing lack of rest, President Duterte was the lone head of state who missed at least three special summits held with Australia, South Korea and the working lunch hosted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the sidelines of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit here.

Malacañang provided no official explanation as of press time on why the President failed to attend the ASEAN-Australia Informal Breakfast Summit set at 8:30 a.m., the 20th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit and the working lunch at 12:30 p.m.

He was also absent during the 2nd Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership summit scheduled 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Duterte, however, managed to attend the 21st ASEAN-China summit at 9:30 a.m., 3rd ASEAN-Russia Summit and the signing of memorandum of understanding between the Eurasian Economic Commission and ASEAN on economic cooperation.

Some presidential aides said Duterte needed to rest since he slept at around 2 a.m. yesterday.

In the afternoon, a more energetic Duterte held bilateral talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee.

In his opening statement, the President thanked Lee for the opportunity for the one-on-one talks. He noted that terrorism is also among the matters that need to be addressed by both countries.

Lee was expected to host a gala dinner for the ASEAN leaders as well as non-ASEAN East Asia leaders and the leader-guests of the chairman.

It was not the first time that Duterte skipped major events while he was abroad. He also did not attend the ASEAN-US and ASEAN-India summits in Laos, and the photo opportunity of ASEAN leaders with US President Barack Obama, also in Laos in September 2016); the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation family photo in Peru, APEC economic leaders retreat and APEC gala dinner hosted by Peru President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, all in November 2016.

Meanwhile, the Philippines had also expressed support for the move of ASEAN to extend humanitarian assistance to the affected communities of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state in Myanmar.

“Finally, we support ASEAN’s role in providing humanitarian assistance to all affected communities in the Rakhine State,” Duterte said in his intervention during the working dinner hosted by Lee after the formal opening of the ASEAN 2018.

“We must together address the root causes and create a conducive environment for affected communities to rebuild their lives,” he said.

Duterte’s statement came ahead of reports that the ASEAN member-states would call for those responsible for the atrocities in Rakhine state to be held fully accountable for their actions. 

The ASEAN leaders are expected to issue a final statement on the matter as the summit wraps up today.

The United Nations last August provided a detailed report on the mass killings and gang rapes with genocidal intent in a Myanmar military crackdown. 

The detailed report showed the killings started in 2017 and drove hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims from Rakhine into neighboring Bangladesh.

Amid criticisms, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung  San Suu Kyi has denied the allegations that she was behind the killings.

When Duterte went to Myanmar for a two-day official visit in March last year, he met with President U Htin Kyaw and signed a memorandum of understanding on food security and agricultural cooperation.

Duterte also handed over a pledge worth $300,000 to Suu Kyi as the Philippines’ contribution for the humanitarian assistance to Myanmar.

 At this year’s ASEAN summit, the President also took the opportunity to thank Singapore for its able chairmanship.

“Indeed, with One ASEAN, there is One Response. Yet, the crucial task of sustaining innovative and inclusive growth remains,” he said.

“We must remain undeterred and focused. ASEAN must continue investing in itself,” Duterte added. 

As the region strives to build a resilient and innovative ASEAN community, Duterte said the team must never forget that ASEAN should continue to be a sharing and caring region. 

Duterte also noted the challenges faced by every member on the path towards the realization of ASEAN Vision 2025 and the group’s efforts in achieving a rules-based, people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN community.

“But we continue to prevail. In the wake of recent calamities, ASEAN member-states have provided full support for each other, showing ASEAN’s resiliency and determination. Indeed, with one ASEAN, there is one response,” he said.