AN ongoing inquiry into the recent crash of a Russian jetliner in Egypt was the reason why Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to skip the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila, a Malacañang spokesman said on Friday.

Palace deputy spokesman Abigail Valte said this was revealed by the Russian leader who called President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Thursday night to personally explain why he could not attend the summit that Manila is hosting.

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