(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Russia next month.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. made the revelation in his introductory remarks before the Senate finance committee hearing the proposed Department of Foreign Affairs budget on Thursday, Sept. 12.
According to Locsin, the visit was to “make up for his first state visit that was aborted within half a day of arriving by the fall of Marawi to jihadis including foreign fighters.”
Maute terrorists who wanted to establish an Islamic caliphate in Southeast Asia invaded Marawi on May 23, 2017, while the President was on official visit to Russia.
The President declared martial law in Mindanao from Moscow.
A day after, though, the Palace said Duterte was flying back to the Philippines “as soon as possible.”
Then-Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano stayed behind to witness the signing of deals with Russia.
“I have spoken to my counterpart here in Moscow and have explained the situation and they understand that the security of the Filipino people, especially in Marawi and the whole of Mindanao is a priority,” Cayetano had said.
On Oct. 17, 2017, President Duterte declared Marawi “liberated from terrorist influence” following the deaths of terrorist leaders Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon.
