Duterte arrives in Bangkok

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is joined by Thailand Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak as he walks past honor guards upon his arrvial at the Royal Thai Airforce, Military Air Terminal in Bangkok, Thailand on March 20, 2017. KING RODRIGUEZ/Presidential Photo

BANGKOK- President Duterte flew in here before dawn Tuesday to complete his swing through the nine other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Duterte, together with his Cabinet and some lawmakers, arrived at the Royal Thai Airforce Military Air Terminal 2 at 11:47 p.m. Philippine time.

The President’s delegation includes Acting Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isidro Lapeña, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Vicente Sotto III and Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Mary Jo Aragon.

In his three-day official visit here, Duterte is expected to witness the signing of three bilateral agreements on science and technology, tourism and agriculture.

The President and Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha will hold a bilateral meeting where they are expected to discuss issues of mutual concerns in politics, economy, agriculture, energy, education, and defense cooperation.

He will also meet the close to 2,000 members of the Filipino community where he will echo his administration’s policies.

The Chief Executive earlier visited here in November 2016 to condole with the Thai people and paid his respects to the late King Bhumibol.