Widodo arrives in PH for talks with Duterte, Asean Summit

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Indonesia President Joko Widodo arrived at the Villamor Air Base on Friday afternoon to attend the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Manila.

The 55-year-old state leader and his spouse, First Lady Irania Widodo, arrived at around 2:12 p.m. aboard an Indonesian Air Force plane.

They were welcomed by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Mrs. Bertola Medialdea, the wife of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and Ambassador of the Philippine Embassy to Jakarta Maria Lumen Isleta.

After a welcome ceremony for his arrival in Malacañang, Widodo is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte. A joint statement will be issued to be followed by a state dinner.

READ: Widodo, Bolkiah to visit PH for talks with Duterte

Duterte earlier said that the case of convicted drug mule Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina domestic worker on death row in Indonesia, might be discussed during the bilateral talks.

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo (L) walks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (2nd R) after they inspected a guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the Malacanang Palace in Manila on April 28, 2017, ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila, where leaders will discuss territorial disputes, terrorism and economic integration, takes place in the Philippine capital on April 28-29. / AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE

READ: Widodo visit ‘opportune time’ to discuss Veloso case – Duterte

Veloso was arrested in Yogyakarta airport in 2010 after being caught in possession of 2.6 kilograms of heroin.

She was given a death sentence on the same year for drug trafficking, but her execution was postponed on the last minute after her alleged recruiter surrendered to authorities. The Philippine government said her testimony would be vital against her recruiters.

The Indonesian state leader will also attend the launch of Davao-General Santos-Bitung roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) sea linkage route on Sunday with Duterte.

Last September, Duterte was received by Widodo when the Philippine president visited Indonesia after attending the Asean Summit in Laos. IDL