MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will make a historic first trip to two Asian countries next month.
According to Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles on Friday, Marcos Jr. is set to have a “state visit” to Indonesia and Singapore from September 6 to 7.
The Philippines and the two countries are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. However, Angeles did not provide further details on why the Marcos administration decided to have the President’s first state visits take place in Indonesia and Singapore.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, who succeeded Marcos as President of the Philippines, paid his first state visit to Indonesia in early September 2016 and discussed essential matters concerning Indonesian-Philippines relations with President Joko Widodo.
U.S. Travel
Meanwhile, Cruz-Angeles also stated that Marcos will travel to the United States soon; however, the details of Marcos’ trip to the United States have not yet been determined.
“It’s still being worked out, although the President has said that he will be going.”
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles
This trip will make history as Marcos has a standing contempt order in the U.S. A Hawaiian judge ordered the Marcos assets maintained to pay reparations to victims of human rights violations under his father and namesake, Ferdinand E. Marcos — but as President of the Philippines, the Younger Marcos has diplomatic immunity.
Earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden offered an invitation for Marcos to visit the United States. U.S. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, who led the U.S. delegation to the inauguration of the President of the Philippines, personally presented the invitation.