Rody cuts short Papua New Guinea trip

PORT MORESBY – President Duterte will no longer attend the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit slated here over the weekend.

Malacañang did not reveal the reason for Duterte’s decision but said he will be represented by Cabinet officials at the summit on Sunday, where leaders are expected to have informal discussions with the International Monetary Fund. He will leave Papua New Guinea on Saturday night for Davao City after the gala dinner, sources said.

Earlier, Malacañang said it was optimistic President Duterte’s visit would be “productive” and “fruitful.” The Palace’s expressing optimism came after the President was criticized for skipping some events in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Singapore.

Duterte arrived here at 4:05 a.m. (Philippine time) yesterday to attend this year ’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ meet, which comes as the region is experiencing a trade slowdown tied to a trade rift between the United States and China.

“The Palace expects President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to have a fruitful and productive visit to Papua New Guinea, the host of this year’s 19th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, as he joins 20 other leaders and representatives of member economies for the Economic Leaders’ Meeting,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

He said Duterte was set to join a dialogue with prominent business leaders during the summit of chief executive officers of the APEC Business Advisory Council. The Philippine leader will also meet with leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum.

“The APEC forum is likewise a good opportunity for the President to express his support for mechanisms that will enable our micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to take advantage of digital and online platforms to benefit their enterprises and to bring their products and services overseas,” Panelo said.

Panelo said possible bilateral meetings between Duterte and fellow APEC leaders were being arranged as of yesterday.

Duterte drew flak for missing summits with Australia and South Korea and the working lunch for ASEAN leaders and the gala dinner last Wednesday in Singapore. Foreign affairs chief Teodoro Locsin, Jr. represented Duterte during the events.

Panelo had said Duterte missed the events because he had to take some “power naps” to catch up on sleep.

One of the President’s detractors, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, called the President’s power naps a “problem” for the Philippines.

Panelo dismissed Trillanes’ accusation as a “publicity stunt” intended to call attention to himself.

“Not having spent the spartan way of life in the military with the industriousness, diligence and discipline that a dedicated officer imbues himself with, he (Trillanes) necessarily cannot comprehend that a man like the President could work like hell as if there is no tomorrow, with the passion and dedication found only in men and women who consecrate themselves to the service of the nation without regard to the limits that their physique can reach,” Panelo said.

“We have witnessed how this President has chained himself to a punishing work ethic that saw him shuttling back and forth to the provinces to attend to needs of the hapless victims of war and disaster stricken areas, to condole with – and assist – the grieving families of soldiers and policemen killed in the aftermath of rebellion and terrorist atrocities, (and) raise the spirits of those engaged in law enforcement,” he added.

Panelo said Duterte “stops the hands of clock” as he pores over documents concerning governance “till the wee hours of the morning,” directing the armed forces and the national police to dismantle the drug apparatus and maintain peace and order while undertaking measures to improve the economy.