An opposition lawmaker believed Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte skipped events in the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Singapore to merely evade criticisms from other claimants of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid his apparent “pro-China” stance.
“Sayang lang ang pondo ng bayan sa isang sleeping president. Hindi nya minaximize ang pagkakataon upang makausap ang mga lider ng mga bansa kaugnay ng mga problema ng ating bansa,” ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said in a statement.
“Umiiwas ba sya na masingil sya ng mga bansang nag-aagawan sa WPS sa kanyang pagiging maamong tupa ng Tsina?” she also asked, as she demanded a report on the gains of the Philippines from the summit.
In a separate press briefing, Castro added: “Napakatagal naman yatang power nap nun eh… Dun pa siya natulog. Dapat ‘di na lang siya pumunta sa Asean meeting, sana nag-stay na lang siya dito sa bansa natin baka mas may kabuluhan pa ‘yung magagawa niya rito.”
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier said the President did not attend several Asean events in the Lion City to take “power naps.”
Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, meanwhile, said Duterte’s absence shows his “disinterest in engaging with our Asean neighbors.”