Palace: Duterte won’t attend ASEAN-Australia summit

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte poses for a photo with Commonwealth of Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull prior to the start of their bilateral meeting at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on November 12, 2017. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

After attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India in January, the President said that he will be skipping the summit with Australia for this month, the Palace said.

According to his spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. in a press briefing on March 5, “developments continue to require” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s presence here in the country.

“The President regrets that he will be unable to attend the ASEAN-Australia Summit,” Roque said.

The ASEAN-Australia summit is scheduled this March 17 to 18 in Sydney, but Duterte has expressed his interest in attending the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) commencement exercises on March 18.

Roque further said that while the President considers the summit to be “very important,” he also said that attending PMA’s graduation is important as well. And as the Commander-in-Chief of the military, he “considers this graduation as an opportunity to dialogue with young military officers.”

Duterte then assigned Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano to represent him in the ASEAN-Australia summit.

“The special designation will help ensure that the Philippines continues to be engaged with ASEAN and Australia in advancing shared interest in the same region,” Roque added.

The ASEAN-Australia summit will mark the 14 years of Australia’s ties with the ASEAN member countries.

Duterte was invited by the Australian embassy through a letter signed by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.