APEC Summit, ‘di tinapos ni Digong

PORT MORESBY — Hindi na dadaluhan ni Pangulong Duterte ang ibang pulong sa Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit upang makauwi nang maaga para tugunan ang “urgent domestic developments,” pahayag spokesman Salvador Panelo, nitong Sabado.

Umaasa ang Pangulo na maiintindihan ng Papua New Guinea, ang host APEC summit ngayong taon, ang kanyang desisyon na paikliin ang kanyang tatlong araw na pagbisita.

Sa kanyang bagong schedule, dadalo si Duterte sa APEC economic leaders’ summit, na nagbukas kahapon, ngunit hindi na nito dadaluhan ang ibang mga aktibidad sa linggo. Itinalaga niya si Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez bilang kanyang kinatawan sa ikalawang araw ng taunang pulong.

“The Palace wishes to announce that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will participate in today’s APEC-related events, which include, among others, a dialogue before prominent business leaders during the summit of chief executive officers of the APEC Business Advisory Council or ABAC and a meeting with leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum, capped by a gala dinner in the evening,” pahayag ni Panelo.

“Urgent domestic developments, however, require the Chief Executive to return to the Philippines after today’s activities. The President will personally convey this imperative decision to his good friend Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’ Neill who we hope will understand the same,” dagdag pa niya.

Sa orihinal na schedule ng Pangulo, nakatakda sana itong dumalo sa summit Nobyembre 17 at 18 upang isulong ang mas malapit na economic integration sa rehiyon sa gitna ng digital trade.