Duterte thanks Sultan Bolkiah for helping PH in times of disaster

President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’zzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei before the State Banquet at the Istana Nurul Iman on Oct. 17, 2016. (Photo from the Presidential Photographers Division)

President Rodrigo Duterte thanked Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei for helping the Philippines during times of disaster during a meeting they had on Sunday before the gala dinner for leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and their dialogue partners.

Duterte also said he was grateful to Bolkiah for attending the Asean Summit and for the strong relations between the Philippines and Brunei.

“Thank you for the extraordinary service to humanity,” Duterte told Bolkiah during their meeting. “Thank you also for your help during moments of sadness and disaster in the Philippines.”

The two leaders also met in October when Duterte flew to Brunei for the golden jubilee celebration of Bolkiah’s accession to the throne.

Duterte is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Monday night. /atm