Roque: President Duterte trusts Putin will do “what is right” in Syria

Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin is seen in this photo smiling as he and President Rodrigo Duterte shake hands during their bilateral meeting on  the sidelines of the APEC Leaders’ Summit in Lima, Peru in November 2016. (Presidential Communications photo)

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte said he trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin will do “what is right” in Syria, amid the ongoing missile strikes of France, the United States and the United Kingdom there.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said this was what the President told Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev, who received a personal letter from him for Putin when he visited Malacañang on Monday, April 16.

Putin is a supporter of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

United Nations Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia condemned the US-British-French strikes–which took place following reports of a chemical attack supposedly perpetuated by the Syrian government in Douma, but which the Syrian government denied taking place—as a violation of international  law.

Roque said Duterte expressed hope the situation in Syria would no longer escalate, noting that there were Filipinos in the country.

Roque said during the meeting, the countries also reaffirmed their “mutual support.”