Details of meeting with Duterte ‘confidential’

by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net

PresIDeNt ferdinand marcos Jr. on monday, August 7 declined to give details regarding his recent meeting with former President rodrigo Duterte, insisting that matters they discussed were "confidential."

marcos met with Duterte in malacañang last week. the latter reported about his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China last month and "also discussed other issues."

there are other things that we discussed which I think need to remain confidential; that's between President Digong and myself," the president told reporters during a chance interview in Bulacan after conducting an inspection of typhoon-hit areas in the province.

"Again, these are operational aspects of our military, of our Navy, of our Coast Guard, that's why it is difficult to talk about it openly. I hope you will indulge me there," he added.

Duterte and Xi met several days after the Philippines commemorated the seventh anniversary of the arbitral ruling that invalidated China's expansive claims in the south China sea. the Chinese leader reportedly urged Duterte to continue exerting efforts to promote promotion between the two countries. n