Duterte on meeting his ‘idol’ Putin: ‘Parang matagal na kaming magkakilala’

For President Rodrigo Duterte, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin was like meeting someone he knew for a long time. 

Duterte said that Putin even reminded him to go to Russia when they were seated beside each other during one of the sessions at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM). 

"Mukhang parang magkakilala na kami nang matagal and even the way we pat each other’s hand in a handshake. And you know, I didn’t realize then when were--before we were seated... Nag-usap kami when I finally sat down, I found out that si President Putin was on my left side, so we shook hands," Duterte recalled. 

"And then pagkatapos I shook his hands again and I finally said, 'I'll go ahead.' Tapos nag-senyas siya na, 'Don’t forget to visit Russia.' So he has said it. He has extended the gracious invitation maybe about four times already," he added. 

Duterte confirmed that he would go to Russia on one condition.  

"But not on a wintry night. I can’t stand cold. Mahirap talaga akong mag-adjust sa cold. Maybe I cannot…I cannot do something productive or worthwhile there. I am not… I am not up to it, cold, mahihirapan ako," he said. 

Duterte also took note how warm his interactions with his idol were. 

"Ang sabi ng mga sa news niyan hindi raw tumatawa ‘yan eh. But he was smiling all along. Sabi niya, ‘Huwag kang makalimot punta ng Russia kay may ano ako doon sa iyo… May inireserba ako para sa iyo.’ ‘Totoo ka?’ Baril," he said then went on to say they both like hunting.  

Duterte also believes that he has become "fast friends" with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

"You know, we have become fast friends si President Putin pati si President Xi Jinping," he said of the two leaders he had a bilateral meeting with during the APEC Summit in Peru.

During his state visit in Beijing in October, Duterte announced his "separation" from the United States and pushed for partnerships with China and Russia. 

"I realign myself in your ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin. There are three of us against the world. China, Philippines, Russia," he said. — RSJ, GMA News