Palace refutes Duterte brought 400-member entourage to Israel

President Rodrigo Duterte interacts with Filipinos based in Israel as he met with them at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem on Sept. 2, 2018.
King Rodriguez/Presidential Photo

JERUSALEM — Malacañang Monday denied the number of delegates in President Rodrigo Duterte's visit here has reached 400.

Israeli media have reported that the president was joined by 400 people in his four-day official visit here.

The delegation included military and police officials who are expected to visit Israeli camps.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said less than 50 officials would join the trip but admitted that the business delegation was "substantial."

"The total number of official delegates and accompanying delegates consists of 46 people total. That's in the official list," Roque said in a statement.

"I do know there's a substantial business delegation of at least 150 who are all traveling on their own accounts. Not sure where figure of 400 came from," he added.

Duterte previously said "many" retiring police and military officials would join him in his Israel trip as a "reward" for their service.

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