Marcos back in PH after ASEAN Summit in Malaysia

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has returned to the Philippines after taking part in the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Malaysia.

The plane carrying the President and his delegation landed at 3:19 a.m. 

During the summit, Southeast Asian leaders reached an understanding that any bilateral agreements they might strike with the United States on trade tariffs would not harm each others' economies, Malaysia's premier Anwar Ibrahim said.

Anwar, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said there was consensus during a leaders' summit in Kuala Lumpur that any deals negotiated with Washington would ensure the interests of the region as a whole were protected.

Marcos has backed ASEAN's non-retaliatory measures as regards the recent shifts in the United States' tariff policy.

''We commend Malaysia's leadership in convening this special ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and welcome the consensus to avoid retaliatory measures. This measured and unified approach upholds ASEAN's commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and a rules-based multilateral trading system,'' Marcos said in his intervention at the ASEAN plenary.

He said that the ''unexpected trade barriers'' could disrupt communities, supply chains, and the bloc's hard-earned progress.

During the 2nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, Marcos Jr. highlighted the need to ensure freedom of navigation to guarantee the flow of commerce in the South China Sea and the Arabian Sea.

"The South China Sea and the Arabian Sea cover vital seabeds that serve as lifelines for regional and international commerce in both our regions. As such, it is necessary to provide the freedom of navigation to guarantee unimpeded commerce and to protect the marine environment through compliance with established international law, specifically UNCLOS," Marcos said.

"I reaffim that the Philippines will continue to reaffirm our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with international law," he added in his arrival message.

Marcos said the summit was a testament to the Philippines' strong commitment to a shared vision of peace, security, and prosperity between the two interconnected regions.

Marcos also urged for a greater political will in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) at the sidelines of the summit

Marcos said the joint initiatives in connectivity, trade and investment facilitation, food and energy security, ecotourism, and green development have advanced significantly, ''reinforcing our commitment to narrowing the development gap in our sub-region.''

"As the 2026 chair of ASEAN, the Philippines looks forward to building on the gains of Malaysia's chairship and carry ASEAN forward as we navigate our future together," Marcos said. —LDF, GMA Integrated News