Duterte defends ASEAN-Australia breakfast absence, says it is ‘informal’

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte arrives at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on November 16 to participate in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Week. Richard Madelo/ Presidential Photo

President Rodrigo Duterte defended anew his non-appearance in some meetings of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly his absence in the ASEAN-Australia Informal Breakfast Summit held last Wednesday in Singapore.

In a speech before the Filipino community in Papua New Guinea on Friday, November 16, Duterte said he decided to not to attend the breakfast summit with other Southeast Asian leaders and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison since the meeting was “informal.”

“Itong mga Australia ‘no hindi ko rin maintindihan, eh 8:30 ang invitation informal breakfast. Sabi ko sa mga sundalo bakit ako magpunta doon na unang-una hindi ako kumakain ng breakfast. Eh totoo matulog man… Eh pangalawa, informal man (I do not understand these Australians. The invitation for the informal breakfast was set at 8:30. I told the soldiers, why will I go there? First of all I do not eat breakfast.

It is true that I slept. Second, it is informal),” he said.

“Anong ipakain nila diyan sa atin informal (What will they feed us in the informal breakfast)? Kangaroo?” he added in jest.

Duterte explained that he is not fond of fancy meals, like a buffet, usually served in international conferences.

“Ang totoo talaga ako, every time, nagbabaon ako ng karne norte, tuyo at sardinas, ‘yan lang ang kinakain ko, hindi ako pwede ng buffet.  Punta kayo sa hotel ngayon, bigyan ko kayo ng karne norte (To be honest, every time, I bring corned beef, dried fish, and canned sardines with me. These food are the only thing I eat since I’m not allowed to have a buffet. Come to the hotel now, I will give you corned beef),” he said.

The President earlier earned the ire of his critics when he missed several activities scheduled on Wednesday, where he was represented by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., to catch up on sleep. One of those who blasted Duterte was, opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who branded him “lazy.”

“Binabatikos daw ni Trillanes, tamad ako. Ah l*che ka (Trillanes is saying I’m lazy. You idiot),” Duterte said.

On Friday, Malacañang fired back at the senator, saying his accusations is a “product of a witless if not a malicious mind.”

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said it was not only Duterte who missed some summit meeting. He noted that United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump was also represented by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in this year’s ASEAN Summit, while Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had to be represented because he was “indisposed.”

“Their absence in those meetings did not make them lazy or seriously ill to perform their duties as Presidents of their respective countries,” Panelo stressed.

Duterte is expected to fly back to the Philippines on Saturday evening, November 17, skipping the last day of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Papua New Guinea, which started on Friday and will end on November 18.

Malacañang, however, did not disclose why the President’s trip is being cut short.