President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will leave today (Sunday) for a two-country swing—his inaugural state visits—to Indonesia and Singapore.
Mr. Marcos will visit Indonesia from Sept. 4 to 6 before proceeding to Singapore where he will stay from Sept. 6 to 7.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the President will meet with members of the Filipino communities in the two Southeast Asian nations.
Indonesia is home to about 8,000 Filipinos, while Singapore hosts more than 200,000 OFWs.
Mr. Marcos is also expected to meet with business leaders during his 4-day trip in a bid to bring home investments to the Philippines.
In Jakarta, he is scheduled to witness the signing of the renewal of a 1997 agreement on defense and security cooperation.
“The active defense and military engagement between our two countries is really anchored on a 1997 cooperative agreement in the field of defense and security or what is called the DSCA,” said Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza.
“The agreement has expired and now we’re renewing this agreement. It will serve as the mother framework for all defense and security cooperation with Indonesia,” she added.
Daza said the South China Sea dispute that involves overlapping claims of seven claimants—including the Philippines and Indonesia—will be discussed during Mr. Marcos’ bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
President Marcos is also expected to bring up the case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino on death row in Indonesia, where she was convicted of transporting illegal drugs.
Daza said Veloso’s parents had written to President Marcos asking him to seek executive clemency for their daughter, who said she was tricked by her recruiters into bringing the drugs inside the lining of her suitcase, into Indonesia.
From Jakarta, the President will fly to Singapore on Sept. 6 for a meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
“[T]here will be discussions on key regional discussions of mutual interest, including the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea issues, cognizant that all three countries actually have the common goal of maintaining peace and stability and preventing incidents in this particular part of the world,” Daza said.
Mr. Marcos and Lee are expected to sign agreements on counter-terrorism and data privacy.
On a third trip later this month, the President will fly to New York City to address the United Nations General Assembly and meet with other world leaders.
Daza said Marcos will be addressing the UNGA on Sept. 20, during which he will highlight the Philippines’ role in international cooperation.
Daza also said that meetings with other world leaders are being worked out, including one with US President Joe Biden, as well as business meetings.