Japanese PM congratulates Bongbong Marcos

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio congratulated presumptive President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Friday through a letter.

According to the Japanese Embassy, Fumio wrote a letter to Marcos Jr. Friday which expressed his intent for a continuous strategic partnership between the two countries under the next administration.

“Prime Minister Kishida, in the letter, extended his congratulations to President-elect Marcos, and conveyed his determination to further promote cooperation as Strategic Partners in a wide range of areas toward the realization of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’,” the embassy said.

Marcos Jr. remains at the forefront of the presidential race with over 31-million votes based on the partial, unofficial tally from the current election returns from the Commission on Election Transparency Servers. Meanwhile, his running-mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Caprio, is poised to be elected as the new vice president.

Several foreign leaders have earlier congratulated them including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and United States President Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa wrote a letter to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio congratulating her on her presumptive win as the Philippines’ next vice-president.

According to the Japanese Embassy, Hayashi echoed Japan’s intent for the two countries to have stronger bilateral ties under the upcoming administration in his letter sent on Friday, May 13.

“Minister Hayashi, in the letter, extended his congratulations to Vice President-elect Duterte and, with reference to the history of people-to-people exchanges of the two countries in Davao where she originates, conveyed his hope for further deepening of the bilateral friendly relations,” the embassy said.

Duterte-Carpio is on the cusp of winning the 2022 vice-presidential elections alongside running-mate former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. As of 2:47 PM on Friday, she received 31, 561, 948 votes. --BAP/NB, GMA News