Duterte’s Tokyo trip a ‘reward’ for Cabinet execs after May 13 polls – PH envoy 

TOKYO —Cabinet officials are joining President Rodrigo Duterte on his third trip here as a “reward” from the Chief Executive who is “elated” with the victory of administration candidates in the midterm elections, the country’s top envoy here said Tuesday.

Duterte will arrive here Tuesday night with 16 Cabinet officials joining the official delegation. The President is attending Nikkei’s 25th International Conference on the Future of Asia.

“Ito’y pabuya sa nakaraang eleksyon. Why do you bring [16] Cabinet members here pati local government for land reform? Wala namang land reform dito?” Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel V told Philippine reporters in a press briefing here.

“I think the President is so elated with the results of the midterm elections that this is an affirmation of what his administration does in the last three years. Parang pabuya,” he added.

The envoy said Duterte’s Tokyo trip would be shouldered by Nikkei which invited the President here.

“Unang-una ito ay imbitasyon ng Nikkei. Sila ang sasagot ng gastos [ng Presidente]. Pagka-libre ay ‘di sabihin sa kapitbahay,” he said.

Cabinet secretaries joining the President on his visit are: Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Agriculture  Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Science Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio, Jr., Economic Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Communications Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar, National Security Adviser  Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo and Peace Secretary Carlito Galvez.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)