Duterte skips Asean-Aus breakfast summit

Leaders of Asean pose during the Asean-Australia Informal Breakfast Summit in Singapore on Nov. 14, 2018. President Rodrigo Duterte skipped the breakfast for still unspecified reasons. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locson Jr. (third from left) stood in for the Philippine leader. INQUIRER.NET / NESTOR CORRALES

SINGAPORE — President Rodrigo Duterte skipped the Asean-Australia Informal Breakfast Summit, the first event for Southeast Asian leaders during the second day of the 33rd Asean Summit here.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. represented the President at the gathering of regional leaders and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Malacañang has yet to issue a statement on the President’s absence.

This is not the first time the President skipped an event with fellow head of states.

In March, Duterte also skipped the Asean-Australia Special Summit in Sydney to attend the Philippine Military Academy graduation In Baguio City.

During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Peru on November 2016, Duterte skipped the gala dinner and was also a no-show at the  traditional family photo of the 21 Pacific Rim leaders.

The President also skipped the meeting of regional leaders with the United States and India on the last day of the Asean in Vientiane in September 2016. /cbb