Duterte accepts honorary doctorate degree

This is the first time Duterte said yes to accepting such award given the warmer ties between the Philippines and Russia now enjoy since he assumed the presidency in 2016. #Dutertedoctoratedegree #MoscowStateInstituteofInternationalRelations

The Moscow State Institute of International Relations. (M Bolaris)

Russia’s top university is conferring an honorary doctorate degree to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte will be receiving the recognition from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) where he will deliver a speech to future Russian diplomats on Saturday, 5 October, according to Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta.

“MGIMO is the top university in Russia and its focus is on international relations. And that’s how intense they study international relations,” Soretta said in an interview.

“They develop expertise in every aspect of their functional or geographic relationships. And they also do a lot of policy studies. They have given this honorary degree to other heads of states,” he added.

The President has been offered similar recognition by other countries but opted to turn them down, the envoy noted.

This is the first time Duterte said yes to accepting such award given the warmer ties between the Philippines and Russia now enjoy since he assumed the presidency in 2016.

“The turn in Philippines-Russia relations, I think, is nothing short of dramatic,” Sorreta said.

While there, Soretta said they expect the Chief Executive to discuss what lies ahead for both countries.

“Then he will take questions from students. There will be a mini dialogue,” he stated.

Soretta even joked that he and other members of the President’s official delegation are making bets on who would be the first one to shake his hand and call him “Dr. Duterte.”

Duterte’s lecture at the MGIMO was originally among his scheduled activities two years ago but had to cancel because he had to rush back to Manila to attend to the Marawi City security crisis.