AMID terror threats in Mindanao, President Rodrigo Duterte has cancelled his scheduled visit to Tokyo, Japan in early June.
The President was initially set to participate in the 23rd International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo on June 5 to 6.
“H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, President of Republic of the Philippines, has canceled his appearance at this year’s conference,” the Secretariat of the event told Sun.Star in an email sent Tuesday.
It would have been Duterte's second trip to Japan as the country's president. The Chief Executive visited Japan in October last year.
The cancellation of his attendance to a conference in Japan came is an apparent move to closely monitor the ongoing clashes between government forces and terrorist groups in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
On May 23, Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao while he was in the middle of a state visit in Moscow, Russia. He then cut short his trip and returned to the Philippines to address the situation in Marawi City.
Last week, Duterte said his visit to Japan would be his “last trip” as he implemented a 60-day martial law in Mindanao.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the President’s presence in the country is necessary.
“As far as we know, he would rather stay here,” Abella told reporters in a press conference. (SunStar Philippines)