SINGAPORE — President Duterte said there is nothing wrong with taking power naps during the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit here which led him to skip five events on Wednesday, including the 2nd Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Summit (RCEP).
On Thursday, while he initially told reporters he only had tentative plans to attend the Asean-US Summit, he later decided to show up at the event.
“What’s wrong with my nap? I do not eat breakfast and I’m sure you ladies know that,” Duterte told reporters earlier on Thursday on the sidelines before attending the Asean-India Summit.
Although he said he had enough sleep to sustain his endurance for the last few days, Duterte said he is still not sure if he would attend the second event slated for the day, the Asean-US Summit. “Am I supposed to meet the US?”
Pressed for clarification if he will attend the Asean-US Summit, Duterte said: “I’ll see.”
Aside from Wednesday’s RCEP Summit, Duterte was also a no-show at the Asean-Australia Informal Breakfast Summit, 20th Asean-Republic of Korea Summit, Working Lunch Hosted by the Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for Asean Leaders and Guests, and the Gala Dinner.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. attended in behalf of the President for all of these events.
Malacañang said on Wednesday it “finds it amusing that some quarters are making a big fuss of the President’s skipping a few meetings.”
“Last night, the President worked late and had only less than three hours of sleep. It is unfortunate that the first event scheduled today (Wednesday) was at 8:30am,” Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo also assured that there is nothing to worry about especially on the President’s health and that the President will be participating in the rest of the summits on Thursday as well as the bilateral meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
“We assure the nation that his aforementioned absence has nothing to do with his physical health and well-being which have been the subject of speculation. The President’s constantly punishing work schedule is proof that he is in top physical shape,” he said.