Duterte defends power naps, attends ASEAN meetings

SINGAPORE – What’s wrong with my naps?

President Duterte came out energized yesterday to attend the events on the last day of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit here after skipping at least five events the other day.

When asked at the door of the ASEAN-India informal breakfast summit, the Chief Executive said he was able to get enough rest to endure seven events for the day.

“Still not good enough…But enough to sustain the endurance for the last day’s (events). Why? What’s wrong with my nap?” Duterte said. “I do not...You know, I don’t eat, I don’t eat breakfast. And I’m sure you ladies do know that. We don’t eat breakfast.”

The President attended the 6th ASEAN-US Summit, 21st ASEAN Plus Three Summit, East Asia Summit Lunch Retreat, the 13th East Asia Summit Plenary and the closing ceremonies.

He was also expected to hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before leaving Singapore to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in Papua New Guinea. 

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr. defended Duterte, saying: “These are scenarios where the experts already arrived at the conclusion. These are studied by the DFA, this is studied by Malacañang.”

Asked if the President’s absence reflects poorly on the Philippines, he said: “No, absolutely it doesn’t. I can tell you that I have seen different leaders stand up and leave, including the chairman. And it doesn’t reflect badly.”

“This morning I sat down and then I got a tap on my shoulder and he says ‘I am here’,” the foreign secretary said, referring to Duterte’s attendance at the first event – the ASEAN-India informal breakfast summit. 

“This flak is not something he invited. I think it came from his enemies.  I don’t know what we can do,” he added.

Last Wednesday evening, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo expressed belief that the Chief Executive did well, especially in expressing the stand on the South China Sea. 

When Duterte attended the 21st ASEAN-China Summit last Wednesday, the President represented the Philippines, as the new Country Coordinator for the ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations.   

It was where he underscored that ASEAN and China are committed to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the expeditious conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), assuring that the Philippines would continue to work for the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC. 

The President also reaffirmed the need for claimant countries to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities, avoid actions that may further complicate the situation and pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law. 

On the 3rd ASEAN-Russia Summit, Duterte emphasized the need for closer links between ASEAN’s and Russia’s security agencies to address common security challenges.

He welcomed expanding the cooperation on combating non-traditional security threats such as international terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crimes. He also vowed to collaborate more with Russia on the security and use of information and communication technology. 

“We therefore expect that in the long run our people would eventually reap the substantial benefits of the President’s cautious, pragmatic, diplomatic yet independent stand which he embarked on since the start of his presidency,” Panelo said.

He dismissed as “amusing” the various criticisms on Duterte’s absence at some of the activities.

For Sen. Panfilo Lacson, there is really no big deal on the President’s absence in several meetings, adding that some sectors are making a big issue out of it.

“For all we know the other heads of state might have also skipped other events. But this was not made into an issue,” he said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum yesterday.

Duterte was the lone ASEAN head of state absent during a special summit with Australia on Wednesday morning.

Lacson expressed belief that the absence could also be deliberate, considering that two of the meetings he skipped were with the leaders of Australia and Canada.

“I examined the events he skipped and from my point of view…we all know there is animosity with Australia and Canada. This is my own deduction – maybe he really intended to skip those meetings…Remember the issue on waste materials and the statement of PM (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau? Maybe, these were among the considerations, aside from other factors,” he said partly in Filipino.

Apparently, he was referring to the more than 100 container vans of garbage from Canada that arrived in the country between 2013 to early 2014 and the Canadian prime minister’s raising the issue of human rights and extrajudicial killings during the ASEAN meet in the Philippines last year.

“But it is up to the President, it is his call. And he was amply represented by Secretary Locsin,” Lacson said.

He believed that Duterte did not miss much when he skipped several meetings, as he pointed out that the really positive outcome do not come from these but from the follow-through meetings among Cabinet members.

“When heads of state meet, although there are policy issues or guidance discussed, the real implementation comes from the follow-through done, which is more important actually,” he added.

Lacson also described as “flimsy” the statement that the President skipped the meetings to take a power nap, adding that this could be a statement done by a person who really has nothing to say.

He added that it would be better to wish the President well, instead of pounding on his health condition.

“It is better to have a healthy President. No matter how you dislike or hate him, he is still the President,” he said.

Opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said if the President really took a nap, then it could be a sign that he is seriously ill or just too lazy and irresponsible.  – With Cecille Suerte Felipe