World
Updated: April 22, 2021

COVID-19: Philippines President To Skip ASEAN Summit

By Lawrence Agbo
April 22, 2021
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Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte will not attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit scheduled on Saturday in Jakarta.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Duterte has decided to remain in the country to attend to pressing domestic concerns in the light of the surge in COVID-19 cases.

The Philippines now has over 962,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 16,265 deaths.

The DFA said Duterte has designated Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin as his special envoy to the summit that would discuss ASEAN’s collective efforts in addressing threats and challenges to peace and stability in the region.

“This special leaders’ meeting will address urgent matters in the region, including recovery efforts, the situation in Myanmar, ASEAN community-building efforts, external relations, and regional and international issues,’’ the DFA statement added.