Floirendo part of large Philippine delegation to Moscow

MANILA, Philippines - Even as the Department of Justice investigates the complaint filed against him by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. is among the politicians in President Duterte’s large delegation to Russia during a four-day official trip there this week.

Floirendo was seen together with former Senate president Manuel Villar, former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Singson, presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo as well as members of the Cabinet prior to Duterte’s departure at the Davao International Airport yesterday.

With Duterte are 16 of his 23 Cabinet secretaries.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, usually the designated caretaker whenever Duterte was abroad, also boarded the chartered Philippine Airlines flight.

Since he was in a hurry, Duterte failed to announce who would be the designated caretaker. He also did not have a question and answer session with the media, unlike his previous departure ceremonies. 

Alvarez had sought the intervention of the justice department in canceling what the Speaker described as a “grossly disadvantageous” deal between the Bureau of Corrections and the Tagum Agricultural Development Corp. (Tadeco), owned by Floirendo’s family, for the use of vast tracts of land in the Davao Penal Colony. 

Tadeco is one of the world’s largest banana exporters.  

Duterte is expected to corner a piece of the Russian market during his official visit, as follow up to the commitment of Russian President Vladimir Putin during their talks last year on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru to buy $2.5 billion worth of agricultural products from the Philippines. 

Others who are part of the President’s delegation are Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., presidential assistant Christopher Go and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

Prior to his departure, Duterte met with South Korean special envoy to ASEAN and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. Lorenzana, Cayetano and Foreign Undersecretary Enrique Manalo accompanied the President during the courtesy call in Davao City.

Dutertenomics in Moscow

Duterte is expected to trumpet his administration’s infrastructure program in this Eurasian country teeming with infrastructure-related companies on the lookout for new markets.

While security and military cooperation are high on Duterte’s agenda in his Russian visit, Lopez said the President is also expected to highlight the so-called Dutertenomics, an P8-trillion Philippine infrastructure improvement plan launched last month by the government’s economic team.

“There will be an investment forum, highlighting Dutertenomics for us to be able to present the government’s plans,” Lopez told The STAR, adding that this will help Russian companies know about the Philippines, as many of them are not familiar with the country.

With this, Lopez said the Duterte administration hopes that Philippine and Russian companies involved in infrastructure or related sectors will establish linkages.