Duterte to attend 35th Asean summit in Thailand

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 is scheduled to attend the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Bangkok, Thailand next month, Malacañang said on Friday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed the attendance of the President, who recently suffered from “muscle spasms”, triggered by his Oct. 16 minor motorcycle accident in Manila.

Panelo said Duterte’s foreign trip would push through, despite the latter’s current physical condition.

He noted that the 74-year-old President is expected to fly to Bangkok on November 1.

“Oo (Yes), definitely,” Panelo told Palace reporters, when asked if Duterte would join the nine other Asean leaders in the 35th conference that will be held in Bangkok.

“He will be leaving on the first [of November] to Bangkok. Tuloy pa rin ’yun (That will push through),” he said.

Thailand will host the regional bloc’s 35th summit in Bangkok from November 2 to 4.

Aside from Thailand and the Philippines, the annual summit will be attended by leaders and delegates from eight other member-states, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Other world leaders like those from the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, and the United Nations are also expected to grace the 35th Asean Summit.

World leaders wish Duterte good health

During the President’s visit to Thailand, there would be some adjustments in his “punishing” schedule, Panelo said.

“‘Yung spacing medyo babaguhin natin kasi nga punishing masyado (The spacing of activities will be adjusted because his schedule is punishing),” the Palace official said.

There have been growing concerns over Duterte’s health, after he cut short his trip to Japan on Tuesday due to “unbearable” pain in his lower back.

The President attended Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement rites at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday, but skipped the two banquets hosted by the Emperor and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he had to return to the Philippines on the same day.

In a separate statement, Panelo said the Japanese Emperor and Prime Minister, along with other Japanese officials, hoped for the President’s speedy recovery.

Panelo added that Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, this year’s Asean chair, also extended his well wishes to Duterte.

Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, meanwhile, reminded the President that “he is no longer a young lad and must avoid activities such as riding big motorbikes”, the Palace official said.

Panelo noted that even Africa is “closely watching [Duterte] and what he is doing for the Philippines”.