President Benigno Aquino III. AP/Bullit Marquez
President Benigno Aquino leaves for Vladivostok at 1 p.m. Friday on a chartered Philippine Airlines flight with a 66-member delegation, mostly business leaders.
The presidential delegation includes Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, outgoing Transportation Secretary and incoming Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Energy Secretary Rene Almendras, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, and Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Alejandro Mosquera. Mr. Aquino’s entourage also includes former Ambassador Miguel Perez-Rubio, chief of presidential protocol.
The Philippine delegation is expected to arrive in Vladivostok at 9 p.m. Friday (Vladivostok time), about the same time other Apec leaders arrive for their 20th meeting.