Duterte skips Asean summit due to COVID-19 surge

President Rodrigo Duterte will not personally attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) leaders' summit in Jakarta on April 24.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque initially cited the "face-to-face" requirement as the reason for President Duterte's absence.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) later clarified that Duterte decided to remain in the country to attend to "pressing domestic concerns" amid the surge in COVID-19 cases.

He may join the meeting virtually, according to Roque.

The summit is taking place amidst the ongoing struggle with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic affecting the Philippines and other Asean nations.

The meeting will address urgent regional matters including pandemic recovery, community building, Myanmar's governance crisis, and other issues.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin will express the Philippines' support for Brunei Darussalam and the ASEAN secretary-general's initiative to visit Myanmar and lead ASEAN's response to its crisis.