By Beting Laygo Dolor, Editor-in-Chief After meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and saying that he wanted the Philippines to b...
By Beting Laygo Dolor, Editor-in-Chief
After meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and saying that he wanted the Philippines to be part of the European Union (EU), President Rodrigo Duterte all but disappeared from the scene at the Apec Summit in Lima, Peru this week.
Mr. Duterte failed to show up at the gala dinner for the world leaders on Sunday, Nov. 20, and was also noticeably absent in the traditional group photo of the assembled presidents and prime ministers on Monday, Nov. 21. He was the only one of the 21 world leaders from Pacific Rim countries not to take part in both events.
Malacanang had an official explanation: the president was suffering from jet lag. Earlier, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Mr. Duterte was “not feeling well.”
Prior to leaving for Peru, Mr. Duterte had said that he preferred not to attend the Apec Summit because the long haul flight from Manila to Lima was too tiring. But he said he would attend anyway since it was part of his responsibility as president of a member-country of the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation.
Among the other world leaders at the summit were US President Barack Obama in what was likely his final appearance as POTUS in the world stage; Chinese President Xi Jinping whom the Philippine president met with during his state visit to China last month; Canada’s young “rock star” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; and Putin, who extended an invitation to Mr. Duterte to visit his country.
Attending the gala dinner in the president’s behalf was Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay.
In his 45-minute meeting with Mr. Putin, Mr. Duterte said the Philippines had been “longing to be part of Europe…especially in commerce and trade.” This contradicted his earlier statements slamming the EU.
Mr. Duterte also continued to attack the West, specifically the US for its “hypocrisy” and for intervening in the internal affairs of other countries.
The conversation between Messers. Duterte and Putin was done through an interpreter. Media was only allowed to cover the first 10 minutes of that meeting in a hotel room, before they were instructed to leave the two leaders alone.
In a related development, former President Fidel Ramos continued to extend unsolicited advice to the incumbent chief executive. In a press conference in Manila on Monday, Nov. 21, Mr. Ramos said there was nothing wrong in Mr. Duterte’s wanting to have closer ties with both Russia and China, but not at the expense of the Philippines’ long and friendly ties with the US.
Mr. Ramos said that the president needed to learn the finer points of diplomacy given the changing new world order.
He also said that while he gave failing marks to Mr. Duterte’s first 100 days in office, Mr. Ramos was confident that the next 100 days would be better.
President Duterte has credited Mr. Ramos as the biggest factor in his deciding to run for president last year.
After meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and saying that he wanted the Philippines to be part of the European Union (EU), President Rodrigo Duterte all but disappeared from the scene at the Apec Summit in Lima, Peru this week.
Mr. Duterte failed to show up at the gala dinner for the world leaders on Sunday, Nov. 20, and was also noticeably absent in the traditional group photo of the assembled presidents and prime ministers on Monday, Nov. 21. He was the only one of the 21 world leaders from Pacific Rim countries not to take part in both events.
Malacanang had an official explanation: the president was suffering from jet lag. Earlier, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Mr. Duterte was “not feeling well.”
Prior to leaving for Peru, Mr. Duterte had said that he preferred not to attend the Apec Summit because the long haul flight from Manila to Lima was too tiring. But he said he would attend anyway since it was part of his responsibility as president of a member-country of the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation.
Among the other world leaders at the summit were US President Barack Obama in what was likely his final appearance as POTUS in the world stage; Chinese President Xi Jinping whom the Philippine president met with during his state visit to China last month; Canada’s young “rock star” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; and Putin, who extended an invitation to Mr. Duterte to visit his country.
Attending the gala dinner in the president’s behalf was Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay.
In his 45-minute meeting with Mr. Putin, Mr. Duterte said the Philippines had been “longing to be part of Europe…especially in commerce and trade.” This contradicted his earlier statements slamming the EU.
Mr. Duterte also continued to attack the West, specifically the US for its “hypocrisy” and for intervening in the internal affairs of other countries.
The conversation between Messers. Duterte and Putin was done through an interpreter. Media was only allowed to cover the first 10 minutes of that meeting in a hotel room, before they were instructed to leave the two leaders alone.
In a related development, former President Fidel Ramos continued to extend unsolicited advice to the incumbent chief executive. In a press conference in Manila on Monday, Nov. 21, Mr. Ramos said there was nothing wrong in Mr. Duterte’s wanting to have closer ties with both Russia and China, but not at the expense of the Philippines’ long and friendly ties with the US.
Mr. Ramos said that the president needed to learn the finer points of diplomacy given the changing new world order.
He also said that while he gave failing marks to Mr. Duterte’s first 100 days in office, Mr. Ramos was confident that the next 100 days would be better.
President Duterte has credited Mr. Ramos as the biggest factor in his deciding to run for president last year.
About the Author
Editor-in-Chief2002 to presentBurlingame, California
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