Duterte to finish attending APEC events —PHL ambassador

President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen to stay in Papua New Guinea and finish the events at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit on Sunday before going back to the Philippines.

Philippine Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Bienvenido Tejano on Sunday said Duterte did not leave on Saturday as scheduled and will attend the Sunday meeting.

"He wants to attend the meeting," Tejano told reporters.

Tejano added that Duterte will go back to the Philippines after the meeting.

Pres. Duterte did not fly out of Papua New Guinea last night, says Philippine Ambassador to PNG Bienvenido Tejano. The president will attend remaining APEC meetings for today as originally scheduled

— Jam Sisante-Cayco (@jamsisante) November 17, 2018

On Saturday, Duterte attended a dialogue with prominent business leaders in the Asia-Pacific region but was noticeably absent from a gala dinner for the APEC Summit.

Instead, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez was spotted attending the event.

Lopez said he does not know why Duterte was not able to attend the gala dinner, but it is possible that he was resting to have enough energy for Sunday's events, according to a report on GMA News TV's Balitanghali on Sunday by Jam Sisante-Cayco.

On Sunday morning, Duterte attended the leaders' retreat.

Lopez said Duterte at the APEC Summit pushed for inclusive globalization, calling on developed countries to help other countries grow their economy.

The President also said digitalization or ensuraing more access to the Internet will help SMEs grow their businesses, Lopez added.

Duterte missed several meetings during the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Singapore earlier this week, such as the ASEAN-Australia Informal Breakfast Summit and the gala dinner Singapore hosted for heads of government.

Malacañang on Wednesday said Duterte hardly slept the night before and needed to take power naps in between meetings. —KG, GMA News