Marcos arrives in Indonesia for ASEAN Summit

INDONESIA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday afternoon to attend the 42nd ASEAN Summit.

The PR 001, carrying Marcos and the entire Philippine delegation, landed at Komodo Airport at 4:53 p.m.

It is not the first time that Marcos went here as he had a state visit in Jakarta last September 2022.

In his departure speech in Manila, Marcos said ASEAN leaders would tackle developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, and major power rivalry, among others.

According to Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil, only less than 10 individuals were part of Marcos’ delegation including Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim were also part of the Philippine delegation.

During the Summit, Marcos is expected to assert the importance of demonstrating ASEAN’s centrality in the region amidst the present geopolitical rivalries.

Marcos will also promote the Philippines’ priorities in ASEAN through regional and multilateral cooperation.

The Summit’s opening ceremony will be held on May 10, which will be followed by a plenary session and a series of interfaces among ASEAN leaders and delegates.

This year’s Summit has the theme “ASEAN as an Epicentrum of Growth.”

The ASEAN leaders are expected to begin discussions on a number of important issues to encourage a stronger region amid facing challenges.

They will also tackle strengthening ASEAN’s economic resilience.

Among the expected outcomes of the Summit is the leaders’ declaration on combatting trafficking in persons caused by the use and misuse of technology, the Department of Foreign Affairs had said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News