MANILA – The impending transition to a new administration has compelled outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte to decline an invitation to attend the Southeast Asian leaders’ special summit in Washington in May with United States President Joe Biden in Washington in May.
Duterte said in a Talk to the People taped Tuesday night and aired Wednesday morning that he would not join the meeting between Biden and members of the 10-man Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in the US on May 12-13 because of possible conflict of interest.
As the Philippines’ national and local elections will be conducted on May 9, the President stated that his successor might be announced during the conduct of the US-Asean summit.
“Ang problema kasi (The problem is), the dates are May 11-13. (May) 11-13 ang aming conference. But alam mo kasi, by that time, tapos na ang eleksyon, malalaman na natin kung sino ang bagong president (The conference is scheduled on May 11-13. You know, by that time, we’re done with the elections and the new president will be proclaimed),” he said.
It would be not good to join the Asean leaders’ meeting with Biden, Duterte said, considering that he is about to step down from office on June 30.
He might take a stand that is different from the next president, should he attend the US-Asean conference, he added.
“Pangit na tignan kung magpunta ako doon kung alam kong may bagong presidente na (It’s not good to attend if we already have a new president),” Duterte said. “And besides, if it is a working conference, there might be some agreements or commitments that will be made there. And ang mahirap kasi, kung ako ang nandoon (It’s difficult to attend there), I might take a stand that would not be acceptable to the next administration.”
The Asean leaders are set to hold a dialogue with Biden in the US on May 12-13.
Southeast Asian leaders and Biden are expected to deliberate ways to strengthen cooperation in several areas, as well as the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response and global health security.
The summit will also pave the way for the Asean and the US to tackle regional and international issues and bolster strategic partnerships for the mutual benefit of their peoples.
Duterte announced in October 2021 about his plan to visit the US to personally thank Biden’s administration for their Covid-19 vaccine donation.
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