(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte described his first Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru as “successful” and “very informative” and explained that severe jet lag hit him while in Peru which was the reason he had to miss some of the APEC events.
Malacanang on Tuesday also defended the President from some critics, particularly former President Fidel Ramos who criticized Duterte’s non-attendance at the gala dinner and the traditional family photo shoot at the close of the summit.
Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Anna Marie Banaag said the President’s attendance at these social events should not be made a barometer for the success of his first APEC meeting.
–Attendance at APEC socials, not a success barometer-
“The non-attendance of the President to the gala dinner at sa picture-taking po should not be a barometer to measure whether the participation of the Philippines is successful or not. Ayun po ang stand natin doon,” Banag said in a press briefing.
The President himself described his APEC meeting as “productive and very informative” in a press briefing in Lima, Peru.
Speaking to reporters before he left Peru, Duterte said he would detail the successes of the Philippines’ attendance at the APEC once he returns to the country.
“The APEC meeting in Peru was productive and informative for all of us. For example, like me who is a first-timer in this kind of international convention, (there are) many things to be learned and when there many things to do. As we go along in my governance, I will expound on it more often in my talks back home,” he said.
“It was a productive one, very informative for me,” Duterte stressed as he explained that the issues of climate change, resilient crops, sharing of technology were “very important” for him.
–Duterte explains “jet lag” did him in
The President himself explained why he was not able to attend the APEC gala dinner as well as the family photo at the end of the meeting.
He said the effects of the “jet lag” made it impossible for him to attend the said events, and that he wanted Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., to take care of these events.
“I was not able to attend the socials, I wanted to promote his (Yasay’s) acting career, ikaw na muna dyan sa lahat. Never mind about me. Alam mo kung bakit? (You know why?) Jet lag. (I felt very) lightheaded because exactly at that time, (this was) exactly my sleeping time, back home in the Philippines,” he explained.
The 71-year old Philippine leader, who was overwhelmingly voted into office by Filipinos, explained that it was not good that he would appear very sleepy and tired in the APEC events.
Duterte said it would not be good if the world’s great leaders would be there and he would be seen, getting a bit of shut-eye.
“It’s not good, that somebody, yung mga greats ng convention (are there) at ako nakapikit ang mata. Sabi ko mag-uwi muna ako.” he said. “Talagang inantok ako.”
Duterte says he learned many things in APEC meet
Nevertheless, the President said he learned many things at the APEC Summit, especially on the issues of climate change, and the mitigation of the effects of climate change, and on the use of resilient crops and sharing of new technologies.
He said Russia, China and Vietnam were particularly very helpful as the leaders of these countries had personally invited him to visit their respective countries so they could share their technologies with the Philippines.
The President held bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin where both countries promised to be vital partners of the Philippines.
Duterte said it was very easy for him to relate with Xi and Putin who were like “old friends” to him.