Says the President will, however, attend all APEC-related events today
(Eagle News)—Malacanang announced that President Rodrigo Duterte would be attending Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)-related events in Papua New Guinea on Saturday, Nov. 17.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the announcement after he said Duterte would be cutting short his Papua New Guinea visit.
These events the President would be attending, he said, include a dialogue before “prominent business leaders during the summit of chief executive officers of the APEC Business Advisory Council or ABAC and a meeting with leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum, capped by a gala dinner in the evening.”
Panelo said, however, that the President would be leaving right after the events due to “urgent domestic developments.”
“The President will personally convey this imperative decision to his good friend Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’ Neill who we hope will understand the same,” Panelo said.
He said the Philippines “remains supportive of Papua New Guinea’s Chairmanship and will continue to be positively engaged with APEC, which our country considers as the most important economic cooperation platform in the world, especially in reinforcing the formulation of the new and inclusive APEC Vision beyond the year 2020.”
Philippine representative
According to Panelo, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez will attend the remaining APEC-related events instead.
Panelo said he “is the best person to manifest the President’s support for international mechanisms that will enable our micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to take advantage of digital and online platforms to benefit their businesses and bring their products and services overseas.”
President Duterte missed some events related to the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, but attended the rest.
He was, however, represented in those events by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy “Boy” Locsin.
The Palace said the President took naps to catch on sleep.
