Duterte to skip US-ASEAN meet in May out of respect for successor

If he attends and makes a stand or enters into agreements at the US-ASEAN Special Summit next month, President Rodrigo Duterte said it might “not be acceptable to the next administration.”

Philstar.com screengrab of President Rodrigo Duterte's Talk to the People

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will be sitting out the meeting with US President Joe Biden and with other leaders of Southeast Asia scheduled next month because the Philippines would have elected a new president by then.

Washington, through the US-ASEAN Special Summit, will be hosting state leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on May 12 and 13. 

"Pangit na tignan kung magpunta ako duon alam ko na may bagong presidente na (It won’t look good if I go and there is already a new president-elect) and besides, if there is a working conference, there might be some agreements or commitments that will be made there," Duterte said in his weekly address. 

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/04/27/2177188/duterte-skip-us-asean-meet-may-out-respect-successor