President Rodrigo Duterte. SIMEON CELI/PPD
PRESIDENT Duterte’s first foreign trip next month would surely be a big political and media event, Malacañang said on Sunday.
This early, several leaders from neighboring countries have expressed eagerness to meet with Mr. Duterte during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meeting in Vientiane, Laos, according to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
“We all know President Duterte is the most talked-about leader in Asean and around the world,” Andanar told government-owned dzRB radio.
Media mob
“We expect the international media companies to mob the President in Laos to talk to him,” he added.
Mr. Duterte’s weeklong trip would be his first abroad since winning the May 9 elections. He had previously said he would avoid frequent overseas travelduring his six-year term due to his advanced age.
The 71-year-old Chief Executive will fly to Brunei for a working visit on Sept. 4-5 before heading to the Asean summit in Laos on Sept. 6-8.
Mr. Duterte will then go to Indonesia for atwo-day working visit on Sept. 8-9.
In an earlier interview, the President said he wanted to personally thank the royal government of Brunei for providing employment to thousands of Filipinos. Marlon Ramos
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