Duterte to meet Dr M on July 16

KUALA LUMPUR: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to meet Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad next week.

This follows a phone conversation between the two leaders yesterday.

In a tweet, Duterte’s spokesman, Harry Roque, quoted the president as saying: “(I) had a telephone talk with (Dr) Mahathir before cabinet meeting. He wants to talk about insurgency and Islamic State. We will be there (in Malaysia on) July 16. After boxing, will talk with Dr Mahathir.”

Duterte was talking about the WBA welterweight title fight between the Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse of Argentina on Sunday.