Andanar: Exciting Year Ahead for President Duterte

With fruitful bilateral talks between President Rodrigo R. Duterte and his counterparts from several Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States as well as some Dialogue Partners during the recently concluded 2016 ASEAN Summits in Laos, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar sees an exciting year in 2017 for the President.

As the Philippines will take its turn in hosting the 2017 ASEAN Summits at Mactan and Clark, Andanar said the President had been invited by the leaders of Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore for state visits to their respective countries.

“Doon sa mga napansin kong mga meetings ng Pangulo, naka-attend ako sa dalawa – Singapore pati Vietnam – ay si Presidente iyong unang ini-invite,” the PCO chief disclosed on Monday during an interview over radio station DZBB.

“Kaya exciting ang 2017 – sabi nga noong isang Singaporean diplomat, nabasa ko sa kaniyang Facebook page, sabi niya na bumilib siya sa sinabi ni Presidente doon sa loob ng ASEAN-East Asia Summit dahil finally may Presidente sa Pilipinas talagang tumayo para sa Pilipino. Sabi niya, ‘I’m looking forward to ASEAN 2017,” Andanar said.

He pointed out the productive results gained through the bilateral talks by President Duterte with some heads of states, saying: “Ang mahalaga naman doon ay nagkaroon ng magandang exchange ang ating Pangulo at iyong ibang mga state leaders. Nakilala tayo, at nagkaisa sila sa panawagan na kailangang palakasin pa iyong ASEAN relationship with China, ASEAN relationship with US, with India, with Australia.” (PNA) RMA/PPA/JAG/PND/SGP