Duterte to minimize foreign trips

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that President Rodrigo Duterte will lessen his foreign trips this year.

“The President is not keen on making foreign trips. He’s not even keen on flying to Manila. That’s the truth,” Roque said in a Palace news conference when he was asked if Duterte will decide to cut some of his foreign travels.

“I think he will lead others, by way of example, to minimize foreign trips,” he added.

It is not new to the public as the president has repeatedly said in the past how much he dislikes making trips abroad.

Recently, Duterte also fired top officials due to excessive junkets.

However, on January 25th, the president is expected to fly to New Delhi to join a commemorative summit of India-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It would be his first flight abroad for this year.

Roque said that this foreign trip will possibly push through because it’s a gathering of heads of states of ASEAN.

DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 01/ 12 /18