Duterte to visit Japan again this month

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte bids farewell to the send-off party before his flight bound for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan after capping off a successful official visit to the State of Israel on September 5, 2018. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Japan by the end of May to further enhance Philippine ties with the East Asian country, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed Duterte’s trip to Tokyo to reporters in a Palace briefing but has yet to confirm the exact date of his departure.

“Tinext ko si Chief Protocol Robert Borje, wala pa siyang sagot kung kailan, exact dates (I texted the Chief Protocol Robert Borje but he has not yet responded when, the exact dates),” Panelo said.

He said the invitation was brought to Manila by the representative of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Earlier, Panelo bared that the President will attend the International Conference on the Future of Asia on May 30-31.

This will be Duterte’s third visit to Japan since he assumed the presidency. He first visited Japan in 2016 and again in 2017.

Duterte earlier described Japan as “a true friend and proven partner” for its involvement in the Philippines’ “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, including the construction of its first subway.

Japan has also committed to assist the Philippines in fighting terrorism and reconstructing war-torn Marawi City.