Duterte to raise territorial dispute, OFW welfare in ASEAN summit

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to raise the issue of territorial dispute in the South China Sea and the welfare of Filipino migrant workers when he takes part in the first-ever virtual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Friday.

“He will advance all important positions of national interest for the Philippines. These include the South China Sea issue and migrant workers’ affairs,” said chief of presidential protocol and presidential assistant on foreign affairs Robert Borje during a press briefing on Thursday.

Also included was the finalization of the code of conduct for the South China Sea, Borje added.

The 36th Asean summit, which will be done via teleconferencing because of the COVID-19 global crisis, has for its theme, “Cohesive and Responsive Asean.”