Duterte to visit Middle East this month

President Rodrigo Duterte will visit the Middle East later this month as he renews his pitch for federalism, which he believes is a more viable form of government to develop Muslim Mindanao.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the President, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno told the Summit on Bangsamoro Economic Development on Friday that Mr. Duterte “will be traveling to the Middle East on a state visit to Muslim countries” before the end of February.

Diokno said the President goal’s in the coming trip was to “further strengthen our country’s relationship with our Muslim brothers and sisters.”

Here at home, Diokno said the President deemed that the peace negotiations between the government and Moro revolutionary fronts “have gone by for too long, always on sight of shore, but unable to berth every time.”

According to Diokno, Mr. Duterte believes that peace talks are “going on a long haul by the rough road” because of the constitutional system’s fault.

“Our unitary system of government doesn’t offer a good deal of autonomy to minorities,” the President said.