Duterte meets Cabinet on eve of Asean summit opening

President Rodrigo Duterte. (File photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

SINGAPORE — President Rodrigo Duterte met his Cabinet officials here on Monday, the eve of the opening of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian (Asean) Summit.

“We are now meeting with the president inside his room. It’s a usual mini Cabinet huddle before an international/multi-lateral meeting takes place,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.

Duterte arrived here on his private plane at 8:23 p.m.

READ: Duterte arrives in Singapore for Asean Summit

Among the Cabinet members present at the meeting were Finance Secretary Carlos Domiguez III, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

According to Andanar, they tackled “possible issues” for discussion during the multilateral meeting.

Duterte is expected to meet regional and world leaders here during plenary sessions and bilateral meetings to discuss political, economic and security cooperation.

The chief executive will have a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and might also have one with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The President might also have a meeting with United States Vice President Mike Pence and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. /atm

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