PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte left the country on Thursday, April 26, to join fellow Southeast Asian leaders at the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Singapore.

In his pre-departure speech delivered in Davao City, the President said the regional summit was an opportunity for member-states to continue working closely "to further strengthen community-building and advance greater peace, security and stability in the region."

"I leave for Singapore to join my colleagues in the region to participate in the 32nd Asean summit," Duterte said.

"As a responsible state, the Philippines remains committed to engage our partners to achieve the change that we want and need," he added.

Duterte is set to join his fellow Asean leaders in a working dinner and a retreat that will be held in Singapore on April 27 and 28, respectively.

Singapore assumes this year's Asean chairmanship, with a theme that focuses on resilience and innovation.

Duterte said he would take advantage of the summit to raise regional and global threats, such as terrorism, that have an impact on the peace and security of the region.

On the sidelines of Asean conference, Duterte is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long on Saturday, April 28.

Also on Saturday, the President is scheduled to meet separately with the the business delegation and the Filipino community.

"I look forward to meeting our kababayans in Singapore," Duterte said. "Rest assured that your government will take every opportunity [and] use every available venue to uphold and protect the rights of our countrymen working abroad."​ (SunStar Philippines)