READ & LOOK: Duterte wears suit in ASEAN Summit

While President Rodrigo Duterte wears a suit in a rare instance, a foreign affairs official says he’s allowed to wear the barong

RARE INSTANCE. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wears a suit on the second day of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos, on September 7, 2016. Ye Aung Thu/AFP

VIENTIANE, Laos – On the first day of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane, Laos, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wore the traditional Philippine barong.

Duterte’s outfit on Tuesday, September 6, drew a mix of reactions.

Some said Duterte makes Filipinos proud by wearing the barong, while others said Duterte should do as the other male leaders did – wear a coat and tie in this regional summit.

On the second day of the ASEAN Summit, Duterte did just that.

Duterte wore a suit on the second day of the ASEAN Summit on Wednesday, September 7.

It was a rare instance, because in the Philippines, Duterte is often seen wearing checkered or barong shirts, with rolled up sleeves.

BARONG TIME. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (C) holds hands with business leaders during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business and Investment Summit in Vientiane on September 6, 2016. Noel Celis/AFP

HelIen de la Vega, assistant secretary for the Office of ASEAN Affairs of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, earlier explained the required attire in the ASEAN Summit.

In a briefing for Filipino reporters in Manila, De La Vega said: "I've told him that the attire is lounge suit or national dress. Definitely, there’s no problem for him to wear barong."

The ASEAN Summit is Duterte’s first international meeting as president. 

SOURCE: RAPPLER

Mgid