MANILA, April 22 (Reuters) - The Philippines on Thursday
said it strongly supports a plan by the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations' (ASEAN) secretary-general and current chair
Brunei to visit Myanmar and spearhead a response to the crisis
there.
In a statement, its foreign ministry said Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte would not attend Saturday's ASEAN
leaders' meeting because of a COVID-19 crisis at home, but would
be represented by foreign secretary, Teodoro Locsin. The
Philippines strongly backs the meeting "even without the full
attendance of all ASEAN Leaders," it said.