Duterte to visit Russia anew in October

President Duterte is expected to fly to Russia next month in a bid to strengthen the countries’ bilateral ties.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday said Mr. Duterte had accepted the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit his country a second time.

“He said he was invited by the Russian president and that he accepted it. He will soon announce what will happen during his visit,” Panelo told reporters.

No dates yet

Asked when Mr. Duterte will make the trip to Russia, Panelo said he was not sure of the exact dates but it would be held “most likely in the first week of October.”

The Palace official said the President’s impending visit, during which he will hold another round of talks with Putin, aims to improve the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

In May 2017, Mr. Duterte cut short his visit to Moscow when the Marawi City siege broke out during his absence.

Before leaving Russia, the President declared martial law in Mindanao as deadly clashes between government troops and the Islamic State-affiliated Maute terrorist group in Marawi City intensified.

He then rushed back home to the Philippines to deal with the situation.

Make-up trip

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Mr. Duterte will go to Russia next month to make up for his “aborted” first state visit in 2017 “within half a day of arriving by the fall of Marawi to jihadis including foreign fighters.”

The President last met Putin when they attended the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China in April.