MANILA — The Philippine government congratulated President Vladimir Putin on his re-election following his victory in Russia’s presidential elections held on Sunday.
“President Rodrigo Duterte extends the warmest congratulations of the Filipino people to President Vladimir Putin on his re-election,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement released Monday.
“As he resumes performance of his duties, President (Rodrigo) Duterte wishes President Putin more success in leading Russia to greater progress and in advancing the cause of peace and security in our region and in the larger international community,” he added.
The official said Duterte will continue to work with Putin in further strengthening the “reinvigorated relations” between Manila and Moscow.
“We also look forward to working more closely together to strengthen ASEAN-Russia dialogue relations and to advance our common interests in multilateral fora including the United Nations,” Cayetano said.
Putin won overwhelmingly in Sunday’s elections that allowed him to lead Russia for another six years.
Russia’s Central Election Commission announced that the incumbent president won 75.9 percent of the vote, handily winning over seven other candidates.
As per the Department of Foreign Affairs, the elections were observed by two senior officials from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) who were among several foreign delegations invited to observe the polls. (PNA)
