Duterte to receive honorary doctorate from prestigious Russian university

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to accept an honorary doctorate from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations or MGIMO University.

According to Duterte's official schedule, he will receive the degree on Wednesday.

MGIMO University said that it grants honorary doctorate degrees to "prominent foreign politicians, public experts, diplomats and scholars, working in the field of international relations and foreign policy."

Duterte will not be the first Filipino leader who will receive an honorary doctorate degree from the Russian institute. It also conferred an honorary doctorate degree on former President Fidel Ramos in 1997.

Other notable recipients include former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2010, Prince of Monaco Albert II in 2013, and former French President Nikolas Sarkozy in 2015.

Fellow ASEAN leader Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew also received an honorary degree from the same institute in 2005.

This development came after Duterte in April declined to accept the conferment of the honoris causa of law degree.

"Hindi ako tumatanggap, as a matter of personal and official policy, I do not accept awards. Wala sa pagkatao ko," he said then.

Foreign Affairs for European Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Cleofe Natividad on Friday disclosed that Duterte would deliver a policy speech at the said institute.

“In that event, we expect the President to articulate his administration’s commitment to pursue an independent foreign policy that is anchored foremost on national interest considerations,” she said.

Duterte is expected to travel to Russia for an official visit on Monday afternoon. —ALG/KBK, GMA News