MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is taking a chartered flight to Moscow tomorrow to meet his “favorite hero” Russian President Vladimir Putin. This marks the first chartered flight Duterte will be taking since he started flying on private jets in April last year for short-haul flights for his foreign trips in Southeast Asia with separate trips to Beijing, China in April and August this year. Duterte will leave Manila tomorrow and is expected to return to the country on Oct. 5. Among those accompanying the President to Russia are Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. This trip to Russia is Duterte’s second in the country after his May 2017 trip, which was cut short by the conflict in Marawi City.

Source: Philippine Star September 29, 2019 15:45 UTC