(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte will not attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Australia Special Summit in Sydney from March 17 to 18.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said to attend the summit in place of the President was Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.
According to Roque, the decision was made because there were “developments at home” that required President Duterte’s attention.
For instance, he said the President would make an appearance before the Philippine Military Academy graduation in Baguio City.
“He considers this graduation as an opportunity to dialogue with younger military officers, particularly on the manner by which the Philippine government and the military will deal with the problem of modern day terrorism,” Roque said.