Duterte to skip Asean-Australia meet – Roque

President Rodrigo Duterte will not attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Australia Special Summit in Sydney next week, the Palace spokesperson said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said recent developments and events require Mr. Duterte’s presence in the country.

One of these, Roque said, is the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduation.

Roque said Duterte sees the graduation as an “opportunity” to have a dialogue with young military officers.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano will represent the President to the Asean-Australia Special Summit, according to Roque,

The Asean-Australia Special Summit will be held in Sydney, Australia on March 17 to 18, 2018.                        /kga