VIENTIANE, Laos – The newest leader in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, is a rockstar at the ASEAN Summit here.

“We also learned that President Duterte is a rockstar not only in our country but also in other countries like Laos and Japan,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a media briefing on Wednesday, September 7.

“Now the other foreign ministers and delegates have scrambled to get a selfie with our President,” Andanar said.

“You have a President of the Republic who can stand and deliver,” he added.

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

Even Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he was “excited” to meet Duterte, who “is quite a famous figure also in Japan.”

In Wednesday’s media briefing, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella added that Duterte, in his bilateral meetings, shows “a very sophisticated political thinking.”

“It’s quite admirable he is able to actually engage in this kind of conversation which is not always, often seen,” Abella said. “So what have I learned? It’s to open my eyes and learn.” – Rappler.com