PRESIDENT Duterte is skipping the special summit between United States President Joe Biden and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries next month due to its proximity to the May 9 elections and the transition preparations for the next administration.
The outgoing President, in his weekly Talk to the People address, said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana are saying they, along with US officials, want him to attend the May 12 to 13 Summit.
Duterte said Medialdea and Lorenzana are coordinating with the US about the Summit.
He, however, said that with the closeness of the May 12 to 13 Summit to the May 9 elections, it is expected the leaders of the next administration may already be known by the time the special summit ends.
Communications Secretary and acting presidential spokesman said Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodor Locsin Jr. might represent the President in the special summit if he is unable to attend.
The President also said the summit may also involve discussions and taking stands on certain issues that may be better left for the next administration to make.
“It’s not good to attend if we already have a new President. And besides, if it is a working conference there might be some agreements or commitments that will be made there. And what is hard is if I am there, I might take a stand that would not be acceptable to the next administration,” he said.
The President also said it is a “matter of principle” since from the start of his administration, he had already said he will not travel to the US.
The Special US-Asean Summit is expected to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in various areas, including the coronavirus disease 2019 response, as well as regional and international issues affecting the US and the Asean.
In October 2021, Duterte said he might visit the US to personally thank Biden and the Americans for their COVID-19 vaccine donation.
