3 solons with graft cases joining Rody’s 3rd China trip
President Duterte will fly to China for the third time in two years next week to address an international forum on economic and development issues and to meet with President Xi Jinping.
And tagging along are three congressmen who are out on bail for pending cases in the Sandiganbayan.
Mr. Duterte and Xi will discuss pressing issues and common threats such as violent extremism, terrorism, and drug trafficking when they meet on April 10, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee said in a press briefing in Malacañang.
South China Sea dispute
As for the dispute in the South China Sea that Beijing is claiming almost in its entirety, Teehankee said there was a possibility this could be discussed.
“I think the President has been very clear that he maintains the Philippine position and the meetings are based on mutual respect and equality among nations,” Teehankee said.
Mr. Duterte will address the Boao Forum (BFA), also on April 10, Teehankee said, adding this is a privilege for the country and shows that the President is considered a leader in the region.
“Addressing the BFA Plenary is a singular privilege for the Philippines and a privilege for acknowledging the President’s role and leadership in Asia and the Asean region,” he said.
The Sandiganbayan on Friday issued travel leaves to Representatives Antonio Floirendo Jr. of Davao del Norte, Arthur Yap of Bohol and Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. of Camarines Sur who were invited to be part of the President’s contingent.
President’s invitation
In an urgent April 5 motion for leave to travel, Floirendo—one of Mr. Duterte’s biggest campaign contributors in the 2016 elections—told the antigraft court’s Sixth Division that he received the invitation from the Office of the Presidential Protocol.
Floirendo was accused of graft in connection with the allegedly disadvantageous land deal between the Tagum Agricultural Development Co. and a penal colony in Davao. He was ordered arrested last Feb. 21.
Yap is facing a separate set of cases involving pork barrel funds during his term as agriculture secretary, while Villafuerte is accused of graft arising from the Camarines Sur provincial government’s allegedly anomalous purchase of petroleum products when he was still governor.
Teehankee said the President would push for inclusive growth during the forum, which would gather world leaders, businessmen, and members of the academe.
Hong Kong stopover
Aside from Mr. Duterte, also attending the forum are the leaders of Austria, Mongolia, Pakistan, Singapore, and the Netherlands, as well as United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde.
After meeting with Xi, Mr. Duterte will fly to Hong Kong where he will meet with members of the Filipino community.
