Duterte addresses UNGA on COVID-19 pandemic

President Rodrigo Duterte delivered the Philippines' statement at the 75th UN General Assembly's General Debate this week, marking his first time addressing the global body since assuming office in 2016.

The annual event, held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions, saw his recorded speech aired before UN officials and diplomats.

Duterte's speech was the 12th to be broadcast during the high-level debates.

He addressed the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it the "biggest test the world and the United Nations faced since World War II."

He extended the Philippines' condolences to families who lost loved ones to the coronavirus and saluted frontliners worldwide.

Duterte welcomed the UN's COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, designed to aid low- to middle-income countries.

He was expected to address US-China tensions in the South China Sea and human rights concerns, though these were not detailed in the new article.