Duterte to skip World Economic Forum in Hanoi

President Rodrigo Duterte is not attending the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Vietnam this week, a Cabinet official said Monday, a month after organizers confirmed the President’s participation.

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez told GMA News Online he will be representing Duterte in the 27th WEF on ASEAN in Hanoi, Vietnam on September 11 to 13.

Lopez said he is flying to Hanoi on Tuesday.

Duterte recently came back from a week of historic visits to Israel and Jordan, where he reaffirmed the Philippines’ ties with both nations. He was able to get $143 million of investment pledges.

Duterte’s schedule for this week includes a press conference in Malacañang on Tuesday and test firing of Spike-Extended Range missile near Lamao Point in Bataan on Thursday.

The WEF said on August 8 that Duterte was among the eight Southeast Asian heads of state or government expected to attend including Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Calling it a “record delegation” of regional government leaders, WEF Asia Pacific head Justin Wood said “their presence shows the commitment they have to ensure this remains the case as the Fourth Industrial Revolution expands in economic scope and impact, and the geopolitical environment around them changes rapidly.”

Duterte attended last year’s forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where he brought up the potential of the ASEAN youth and how they are also vulnerable to illegal drugs.

“The ASEAN youth are among the best and are most creative, intelligent, and innovative in the world. We must empower them to be the best version of themselves,” he said.

“But we cannot turn a blind eye on the scourge of illegal drugs that threatens our youth and the future of our societies ... We need to take a committed stand to dismantle and destroy the illegal drugs trade apparatus. We must reaffirm our commitment to realize a drug-free ASEAN community.”

The President has repeatedly told foreign critics not to meddle with domestic policies, particularly his campaign against illegal drugs that has killed thousands since he assumed office in June 2016. —NB/VDS, GMA News