Duterte arrives in Singapore for Asean summit

INQUIRER PHOTO / Christine Avendaño

SINGAPORE — President Rodrigo Duterte arrived late Thursday night here to attend the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit of leaders.

The President’s chartered small plane landed at the Changi Airport at 9:56 pm. He was accompanied by five people, including his Special Assistant Christopher “Bong” Go, two aides, and a nurse.

The Chief Executive was welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph Del Mar Yap as well as Singaporean Minister of State Sam Tan Chin Siong.

It was the second visit of the President here since December.

Singapore is this year’s chair of the Asean, a regional grouping that promotes economic, political and security cooperation among its 10 member-countries.

Aside from the Philippines and Singapore, the other Asean members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar.

President Duterte will have a bilateral meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong before he returns home on Saturday. /ee