Marcos: Corruption issues won’t impede PH hosting of ASEAN 2026

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday assured that corruption issues hounding the government will not affect the Philippines’ preparations for its hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Summit and Related Summits next year.

In a “Kapihan” press briefing in Kuala Lumpur after the 47th ASEAN Summits, Marcos said local issues such as the flood control scandal have no impact on the country’s chairship of the regional bloc.

“We do not allow those local political issues of any member state to intrude into what we are trying to do. That’s my experience so far,” the Chief Executive said when asked to comment on concerns that allegations of corruption might overshadow the Philippines’ hosting of the 2026 ASEAN Summit.

“Hindi kami nakikialam sa ibang bansa. (We don’t meddle in other countries.) We talk about ASEAN. And whatever is happening in other countries who belong to ASEAN, it doesn’t really enter into our conversation. It does not make a difference to the directions that we would like to take, the initiatives that we would like to make,” Marcos added.

The President explained that a country’s domestic issues do not figure in the decision-making process of the regional bloc.

He added that even if the Philippines is chair of the ASEAN next year, he is not in a position to influence his fellow state leaders in the regional bloc on how they should address corruption.

“We all want to combat corruption. I’m not there… Even if you’re the chair, hindi mo inuutusan itong mga ito (you don’t order them around). These are presidents and prime ministers and one king, a sultan,” Marcos said.

Malaysia turned over the chairmanship of the 11-member regional bloc to the Philippines upon the conclusion of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. — JMA, GMA Integrated News