Rapport between Duterte, Asean leaders will ensure success of PH summit hosting

A worker waters the lawn of the Philippine International Convention Center, the venue for the April 26-29, 2017 30th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit Tuesday, April 25, 2017 in suburban Pasay city south of Manila,Philippines. The Philippines is hosting the summit of 10-member ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) with the theme: Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.” More than 40,000 police and troops are mobilized for the summit.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

The “excellent rapport” built by President Duterte with Asean leaders will help him pull through in his first hosting job as chair of this year’s Asean summit even if he is now confronted with political controversies that included a crimes against humanity case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar reminded  on Wednesday night that prior to President Duterte’s chairmanship of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), he had traveled around the region to meet with Asean leaders.

“(The President) went around Asean member states to introduce himself and build rapport and I can say that there is an excellent rapport between the President and the other Asean leaders and I’m sure that rapport will ensure the success of his chairmanship,” Bolivar said in his first briefing at the ongoing Asean 2017 summit held in Manila.

Bolivar was asked whether Mr. Duterte would have to explain himself to Asean leaders on controversies that he was now facing politically. These included the mass murder and crimes against humanity case filed against the Chief Executive by lawyer Jude Sabio before the ICC in The Hague as well as a New York Times editorial entitled “Let the World Condemn Duterte” which called for Mr. Duterte to be stopped over allegations he approved the slaughter of criminals and drug suspects.

Bolivar said he could not say though whether any of the Asean leaders would raise these issues to the President as he reminded that the regional grouping after all had a “non-interference” policy on internal affairs of Asean member states.

“But again, I cannot preempt what the other leaders would ask during the summit itself or in side meetings,” he said.

This as Sen. Panfilo Lacson hoped there will be a respite on the personal attacks against President Duterte as the Chief Executive goes about his hosting of the Asean summit.

“Those from the opposition may still express their dissent but this should be issue-based that will highlight policy differences but not bordering on personal attacks if only to show to the whole world that we put national interest above personal differences,” Lacson said in a text message.