Duterte’s visit to Jordan upon king’s invite

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte will visit Jordan next week upon the invitation of King Abdullah II, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced yesterday.

The Sept. 5-8 visit is expected to broaden cooperation between the two countries and help advance shared aspirations for greater peace, progress and prosperity, the DFA said.

The President and King Abdullah II will discuss a wide range of issues of mutual concern to the Philippines and Jordan. The DFA said Duterte’s visit to Jordan will be the first by a Philippine president.

Business leaders from both countries will also meet during Duterte’s official visit to explore ways of increasing two-way trade and investments.

The President will also meet with members of the Filipino community in Jordan.

Duterte threatened last month to curse UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein if the attack helicopters that Jordan had promised to donate to the Philippines were not delivered.

Zeid, a Jordanian prince and a cousin of Jordan’s King Abdullah, had questioned Duterte’s mental stability and painted a bleak picture of the human rights situation in the Philippines as a result of the government’s war on drugs.

The top United Nations human rights official warned leaders who undermine human rights and human rights law that it is not an act of patriotism. Zeid was awarded the 2018 Human Rights Tulip.