Duterte trip to Japan cancelled, says host

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte —EUGENE HOSHIKO/AP FILE PHOTO

President Duterte will not be attending the 23rd International Conference on the Future of Asia in Japan in June, according to Nikkei Inc., the organizer of the event.

Malacañang has yet to announce the cancellation of the President’s attendance at the event on June 5-6 in Tokyo.

Nikkei posted on the event’s website that Mr. Duterte would not be joining other world leaders and officers of international organizations at the conference where he was to delivering the closing speech.

“We regret to announce that H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, President of Republic of the Philippines has canceled his appearance at this year’s conference,” it said in a May 29 post.

It did not explain the cancellation.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said he could not yet confirm that Mr. Duterte’s Japan would cancel the trip.

“But as far as we know, he would rather stay here,” Abella added.

Trip cut short

Mr. Duterte recently placed the whole of Mindanao under martial law following attacks in Marawi by members of the Abu Sayyaf and the Maute group, which had claimed allegiance to Islamic State.

He issued the proclamation while on an official trip to Russia, which he was forced to cut short.

Mr. Duterte’s trip to Tokyo would have been his second visit to Japan as President.

He traveled to Tokyo in October for an official visit and held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In January, Abe visited Manila and Davao City, where Mr. Duterte hosted breakfast for the Japanese leader and his wife at his home.