Duterte rejects EU’s invitation to attend meeting with ASEAN

February 12, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte said he will not attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Europe meeting later this year.

In a speech in Cebu Monday, Duterte said he was invited to attend the leaders' meeting to be held in Brussels on October 18 and 19.

"Now they are inviting me to go to the ASEAN-Europe dialogue. The Philippines is one of the --- just concluded its chairmanship," he said."I said, 'I won't go there'," he added.

Duterte did not say why he would not attend the ASEAN-Europe meeting.

But Duterte reiterated his displeasure that aid from Europe has conditions.

"Europe will give money with condition. I said, 'you go to hell.' I don't need your money," he said.

The Philippines has refused the 6.1 million Euro Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) from Europe.

Duterte has become critical with Europe due to latter's concern over the Philippines' bloody war on drugs. Celerina Monte/DMS