Bongbong Marcos returns, says ASEAN Summit ‘charted new directions’

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has returned to the country on Thursday after attending the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia.

The plane carrying Marcos and his delegation landed at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City at 5:54 p.m.

In his arrival speech, the President described his trip as an accomplishment as it set a different way of discussing issues that confront the region.

“I believe that the summit was a success in that it charted the new directions that were initiated by the chairman, President (Joko) Widodo with the concurrence of all the member states and many new ideas were ventilated and many were adopted,” Marcos said.

The President said he had emphasized the importance of upholding the international rules-based system which supported regional security, peace, and order in the region.

He also expressed the Philippines’ commitment to the principles of free trade and multilateral trading.

Marcos called for enhanced support for “nano businesses,” micro, small, as well as medium-sized enterprises.

Switching to the South China sea, the President said he reaffirmed Philippines’ commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes.

He advocated a rules-based maritime order anchored on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Marcos also reported Asean members have agreed to adjust their approach on the violence in Myanmar.

He said the heads of state would like “to try to engage Myanmar at every level and all political factions that are active and are involved.”

The President also aired his “deep concern” about the Russia-Ukraine war, which, he said, “contributes to global and energy insecurity.”

Marcos will be back in Indonesia in September for the 43rd Asean Summit in Jakarta.

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