Duterte accepts US President Biden's invitation to join democracy summit

President Rodrigo Duterte will participate in the Summit for Democracy scheduled December 9 to 10 on the invitation of United States President Joseph Biden, the Office of the President (OP) said Tuesday.

"President Duterte welcomes the opportunity to share the Philippine democratic experience and commitment to democratic values and nation-building at the Summit for Democracy,” the OP statement read.

Biden, in his invitation for the Summit for Democracy, said Washington is hosting the initiative “with humility and in the spirit of mutual learning.”

“We recognize and appreciate your partnership in working to build democratic and human-rights respecting societies that allow all citizens to thrive. In a moment of significant challenge and enormous opportunity, it is more important than ever for democracies to prove that we can deliver for the needs of our people,” Biden said in his invitation as quoted by the OP.

A separate statement issued by the US State Department states that the Summit for Democracy for leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector will be held virtually amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The summit will focus on challenges and opportunities facing democracies and will provide a platform for leaders to announce both individual and collective commitments, reforms, and initiatives to defend democracy and human rights at home and abroad,” the US State Department said.

Ahead of the summit, the US State Department also said that it is consulting with experts from government, multilateral organizations, philanthropies, civil society, and the private sector to solicit bold, practicable ideas around three key themes namely:

•     defending against authoritarianism
•     addressing and fighting corruption and

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•     promoting respect for human rights.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently granted the Duterte administration’s request to defer its probe on the Philippine government’s drug war killings during police operations for alleged crimes against humanity.

The Duterte administration sought the deferral by citing ongoing investigation by local authorities. Complainants, however, have argued that ICC should press on its probe since the ongoing probe is not meant to hold the perpetrators of drug war killings accountable.

Generous Americans

Back in October, President Duterte said that he is considering making a visit to the United States to thank the American government for their generous donation of COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines.

“Ang bait ng Amerika. Punta kaya ako ng Amerika, just to thank the American government and the people (The American government is kind. Maybe I should pay a visit to thank them and the people)," Duterte said in a taped address.

Based on the records of the US Embassy in Manila, the US government has facilitated the delivery of at least 24.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Philippines via COVAX global aid facility, including more than 16.4 million?doses provided by the American people.

In July 2021, President Duterte also decided to keep the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States, with then presidential spokesperson Harry Roque saying the US government's COVID-19 vaccine donation was considered in keeping the VFA.—AOL, GMA News