Duterte skips ASEAN-UN Summit

President Rodrigo Duterte skipped the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United Nations (ASEAN-UN) Summit, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Tuesday.

DFA acting spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar pointed out that Duterte had several bilateral meetings late Monday night with Japan, South Korea, India, and Russia.

"The meetings were already running beyond schedule so, to avoid further delaying the ASEAN-UN Summit, it was decided that SFA [Secretary of Foreign Affairs] represent the President while he was meeting bilaterally with the other Leaders," he said in a text message to reporters.

Based on the live feed of the ASEAN-UN Summit, the meeting started at around 11:21 p.m. with DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and United Nations General Secretary António Guterres.

During this time, Duterte had a bilateral meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Pres. Duterte holds bilateral talks with PM Medvedev before calling it a night. ????: MPC Pool pic.twitter.com/jsXQBZuKuQ

— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) November 13, 2017

—KG, GMA News