Duterte skips APEC photo session

Leaders of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, pose for a group photo in Lima, Peru, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. —MARTIN MEJIAMARTIN MEJIA/AP

LIMA, Peru — After skipping the gala dinner of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit here, President Rodrigo Duterte was a no-show again at another traditional feature of the annual trade summit – the family photo of the 21 Pacific Rim leaders.

Duterte was conspicuously absent at the customary photo-op of Asia Pacific leaders as they posed for the cameras at past 1:00 p.m. in Lima on Sunday (about 2:10 a.m. Monday Philippine time).

In his place was Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, who was flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on the second row.

The leaders had traditional Peruvian shawls draped over their shoulders.

Among the others present were US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Duterte also did not appear at the gala dinner the previous evening and sent Yasay to represent him.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar earlier said the Philippine president was “not feeling well.”

There was no immediate explanation from Palace officials about why Duterte missed the taking of the Apec “family picture,” one of the most anticipated activities in the annual forum.