PRRD off to 2nd Russia visit in October

FILE: President Rodrigo Duterte and President Vladimir Putin (Photo by Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0)

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Moscow for a second time this October upon the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed to reporters that Duterte accepted the invitation of Putin to visit the country.

“Ang sabi niya ay inimbitahan siya ni Russian President at tinanggap na niya (He said he was invited by the Russian President and he accepted),” Panelo said in a media interview.

Duterte has previously called Putin “his favorite hero”.

Panelo said that the trip to Moscow would likely happen during the first week of October.

Ties between the Philippines and Russia are expected to improve after the President’s visit, he said.

“When you visit a country other than yours, it means you are trying to improve the relations, right? It could mean further improved relations between the two countries,” Panelo said in a media interview.

Last Sept. 12, Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr. bared that the President will go to Russia to “make up for his first state visit that was aborted within half a day of arriving by the fall of Marawi to jihadis including foreign fighters.”

In May 2017, Duterte cut short his first state visit to Russia after Maute terrorists attacked Marawi City.

He declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017.