MANILA – Due to the ongoing turmoil, Chile has announce that it was backing out from hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit supposed to be held next month.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that he was informed of the pulling out on Wednesday evening amid clashes between protestors and security forces in Chile that have left at least 20 dead.
“Per President Pinera of Chile, the APEC has been cancelled due to the ongoing turmoil in that country as related to me by Chief Protocol Robert Borje,” Panelo said in a statement.
Had the APEC Summit pushes through, the presence of President Rodrigo Duterte was also doubtful as his attendance will depend on the advice of his doctor after figuring in a motorcycle accident last week.
Pinera said in an interview with Agence France-Presse that “common sense” had dictated the decision to withdraw from the APEC summit as it struggle to restore order there.
“This has been a very difficult decision, a decision that has been deeply painful because we know exactly how important APEC and COP are for Chile and the world,” said Pinera.
“When a father has problems, he must always prioritize his family over other options. The same goes for a president, he must always put his own compatriots first, ahead of any other considerations,” he added.
Chile is grappling with its worst social crisis in decades that shows little sign of abating despite Pinera announcing a raft of measures aimed at placating protesters./PN
