By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
SINGAPORE -- President Duterte has arrived in Singapore for his attendance at the two-day 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and his meeting with the members of the Filipino community here today.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph Yap and a Singapore official upon his arrival at the Changi International Airport in Singapore on April 26, 2018. Also in the photo is Sec. Bong Go of the Office of the Special to the President. (ROBINSON NIÑAL JR. / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte's eight-seater private plane landed at the Changi Airport in Singapore at exactly 9:56 p.m. Thursday. He was greeted by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph Del Mar Yap and Minister of State Sam Tan Chin Siong.
Joining Duterte in the plane was Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go, Brig. Gen. Allen Paredes, Presidential Security Group commander Brig. Gen. Lope Dagoy, two other aides, and a nurse. Malacañang earlier confirmed that Duterte will be taking a private plane to save money. He also took a leaner delegation. Cabinet members who joined him in Singapore took commercial flights.
According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Duterte is set to hold bilateral meetings with Singapore Prime Minister and ASEAN chair Lee Hsien Loong, Indonesia President Joko Widodo, and Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during the sidelines of the summit.
He said Duterte will discuss with Widodo piracy, terrorism and the repatriation of Filipino fishermen who were caught fishing in Indonesian waters.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said Duterte is set to speak at the social dinner hosted by Lee tonight, and in the plenary session this morning.
After his ASEAN-related engagements, Duterte is scheduled to meet with members of the Filipino community here in 1 Venture Avenue tonight. Yap earlier said the 6,000 slots available for the event were immediately filled up in less than 24 hours.
Yap said there are roughly 180,000 Filipinos working and living in Singapore. Of the said number, around 60 percent are professional or skilled workers, while the remaining 40 percent are domestic workers.
Duterte is scheduled to leave Singapore later at 7:45 p.m. Being the leader of an ASEAN country, Duterte is expected to return to Singapore in November for the 33rd ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN-East Asia Summit where the leaders of America, Japan, China, Canada, Russia, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are also expected to attend.
Duterte's attendance to the 32nd ASEAN Summit is his fourth overseas trip this year. He first went to New Delhi for the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in January. Last week, Duterte went to China for the Boao Forum, and then went straight to Hong Kong to meet Filipinos there.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph Yap and a Singapore official upon his arrival at the Changi International Airport in Singapore on April 26, 2018. Also in the photo is Sec. Bong Go of the Office of the Special to the President. (ROBINSON NIÑAL JR. / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte's eight-seater private plane landed at the Changi Airport in Singapore at exactly 9:56 p.m. Thursday. He was greeted by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph Del Mar Yap and Minister of State Sam Tan Chin Siong.
Joining Duterte in the plane was Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go, Brig. Gen. Allen Paredes, Presidential Security Group commander Brig. Gen. Lope Dagoy, two other aides, and a nurse. Malacañang earlier confirmed that Duterte will be taking a private plane to save money. He also took a leaner delegation. Cabinet members who joined him in Singapore took commercial flights.
According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Duterte is set to hold bilateral meetings with Singapore Prime Minister and ASEAN chair Lee Hsien Loong, Indonesia President Joko Widodo, and Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during the sidelines of the summit.
He said Duterte will discuss with Widodo piracy, terrorism and the repatriation of Filipino fishermen who were caught fishing in Indonesian waters.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said Duterte is set to speak at the social dinner hosted by Lee tonight, and in the plenary session this morning.
After his ASEAN-related engagements, Duterte is scheduled to meet with members of the Filipino community here in 1 Venture Avenue tonight. Yap earlier said the 6,000 slots available for the event were immediately filled up in less than 24 hours.
Yap said there are roughly 180,000 Filipinos working and living in Singapore. Of the said number, around 60 percent are professional or skilled workers, while the remaining 40 percent are domestic workers.
Duterte is scheduled to leave Singapore later at 7:45 p.m. Being the leader of an ASEAN country, Duterte is expected to return to Singapore in November for the 33rd ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN-East Asia Summit where the leaders of America, Japan, China, Canada, Russia, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are also expected to attend.
Duterte's attendance to the 32nd ASEAN Summit is his fourth overseas trip this year. He first went to New Delhi for the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in January. Last week, Duterte went to China for the Boao Forum, and then went straight to Hong Kong to meet Filipinos there.