MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday he was considering skipping the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru next week because he hates long-haul flights.

It would be Duterte's first time to attend the annual meeting of Pacific Rim leaders, which also include US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"If my presence is dispensable, I'd rather not kasi malayo (It's far)... I hate long-hauls," Duterte said.

Duterte said Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay was convincing him to push through with the trip to Lima.

The estimated travel time from Manila to Lima is about 19 and a half hours for direct flights. It could take longer should the president's plane make stopovers.

Duterte said he could fly to Peru via New Zealand, while another route would require a stop in either New York or Miami in the US.

"It's a long way across the globe. It's a long-haul, it will kill you by the time you reach (Peru)," he said.

Duterte in APEC would bring him in close quarters with Obama, whom he had repeatedly criticized over the US government's censure of his bloody war on drugs.

The President has been as vocal about his desire to strengthen ties with China and Russia as he moves to lessen the Philippines' dependence on its long-time ally, the US.