President Rodrigo Duterte told Russia’s ambassador to the Philippines that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would do the right thing in Syria and that he hoped the situation would not escalate for the sake of Filipinos working there.
The President met with Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev in Malacañang on Monday, and the two officials reaffirmed mutual support between the Philippines and Russia, said former human rights lawyer and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Letter from Putin
Khovaev handed the President a personal letter from Putin.
Roque said the President also expressed confidence in what Putin would do next in Syria, where Putin supported the dictatorship of Bashar Assad.
Roque, in a press conference, said the President expressed hope during his meeting with Khovaev that the situation in Syria would not escalate any further “as there are about 1,000 Filipinos in Syria.” —Leila B. Salaverria