(Eagle News)–Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Friday, Nov. 16, hit back at those who criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for not attending all 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit events.
“Accusation that the President is lazy or seriously ill to perform his functions as head of state and government just because he had to take power naps in between a few events to catch on some sleep and energize himself and avoid the embarrassment of dozing off during one of the meetings (as one head of state pitifully succumbed to due to the energy sapping daily activities) is a product of a witless if not a malicious mind,” Panelo said.
According to Panelo, in the first place, some world leaders were also not present in some of the events, and they were represented by a member of their Cabinet.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, for instance, he said, “had to be represented in two of the meetings he was presiding because he was indisposed.”
US President Donald Trump was also represented by Vice President Mike Pence.
“Their absence in those meetings did not make them lazy or seriously ill to perform their duties as presidents of their respective countries,” Panelo said.
He noted that the foreign ministers could instead read statements prepared beforehand.
President Duterte attended important events that involve the discussion of mutual concerns among the ASEAN members as well as meetings with other top leaders of non-ASEAN countries that affect the security, stability and economy of the region where he vigorously articulated and espoused ideas and theories that could bring about solutions to the Asian countries’ collective problems,” Panelo said.
“We assure our people that the President is more than able to fulfill his commitment to the nation,” Panelo added.
