Duterte to formally decline Trump’s invitation to visit US — Panelo

President Rodrigo Duterte will formally decline the invitation of US President Donald Trump to visit Washington, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Friday.

“He said he would respond to the invitation and will decline,” Panelo said during a press briefing in Malacanang.

He said the decision has nothing to do with Trump’s signing of US Fiscal Year 2020 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act which includes a provision banning the entry of Philippine government officials involved in the detention of Senator Leila de Lima.

“He said he never intended to visit  the US naman ever since,” said Panelo

As early as 2017, Trump has already invited Duterte to visit the White House.

In July last year, Duterte said his dislike for long flights and schedule were the ones preventing him from accepting Trump’s invitation.

Asked if Duterte does not hold it against Trump for signing the budget law which includes the provision on the entry ban, Panelo said “no.”

He also said the President does not think less of the US President which he considers as a friend.

“No. Kasi unang-una, I have already repeatedly said, it’s not naman self-executory eh. The law itself says if there is credible information received by the one who will decide – and the one who will decide will be the Secretary of State.

“And that is why even the Ambassador, as I related to you, when we had an encounter in one party the other night, he said eh sa Congress naman eh,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News