(Eagle News) — So why did President Rodrigo Duterte miss several events in the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Singapore?
According to the Palace, it was because he took “power naps to catch on sleep.”
“Last night, the President worked late and had only less than three hours of sleep. It is unfortunate that the first event scheduled today was at 8:30 a.m.,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
Apart from the gala dinner, according to Panelo, the President skipped the ASEAN-Australia Informal Breakfast Summit, the 20th ASEAN – Republic of Korea Summit, the Working Lunch hosted by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the Second Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit.
The President, however, was represented by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. in those events, and he attended ASEAN meetings with China, Japan and Russia, the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the ASEAN on Economic Cooperation and the Eurasian Economic Commission, and a bilateral meeting with Singapore.
“The President’s constantly punishing work schedule is proof that he is in top physical shape,” Panelo said, dismissing what he said were “amusing” claims Duterte’s absence in those events had something to do with his health.
The President is slated to attend the 19th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Papua New Guinea after attending the ASEAN events in Singapore.
