Duterte snubs Asean-UN summit

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was a no-show at the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean)-United Nations (UN) summit in Vientiane, Laos on Wednesday afternoon.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay represented Duterte at the Asean-UN bilateral meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

The meeting was scheduled at 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Palace, however, is yet to issue a statement regarding the President's absence.

In a statement, Communications Assistant Secretart Queenie Rudolfo said Duterte paid a courtesy call on Laos President Bounnhang Vorachith at 7 p.m., half an hour after the dialogue.

Ahead of the Asean summits, the President already turned down a meeting with Ban as the former's schedule was reportedly tight.

Following Ban's statement that he was "deeply disturbed" by the spate of drug personalities in the Philippines, Duterte had felt offended and even warned the UN that he would take the country out of it if it continues to intervene.

Duterte, however, took back his pronouncement and stressed that he had no intentions to do withdraw the Philippines' membership at UN. (Sunnex)