WHILE President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr is in Japan for the 50th ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Summit, Vice President Sara Duterte will preside as Chairperson of the Executive Committee meetings in Davao City.
In a statement released Saturday on her “caretaker” duty, Duterte said she “will hold office in DepEd NEAP Davao (Department of Education National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines) and OVP (Office of the Vice President) Satellite Office in Davao.”
Marcos left for Tokyo on Friday and will return on Monday, December 18, 2024.
In his departure message, the President said his trip to Japan would be an opportunity to promote the Philippines’ interests and present the country’s position on various international issues.
“The Philippines will always continue to shepherd ASEAN initiatives and projects with Japan not only to co-create a region of economic prosperity, but also an inclusive society that is ready for the future,” Marcos said in a speech on Friday.
Marcos, invited by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, will attend the event from December 16 to 18 and is anticipated to hold a bilateral meeting with the Japanese leader.
The two are seen tackling a “reciprocal access agreement” that will permit Manila and Tokyo to send military forces to each other’s territory for drills and training.
“I will highlight that the ASEAN-Japan relationship has inexorably evolved and progressed over the past five decades, particularly in shared commitment towards peace and security, trade and investment, food security, climate action, energy security, supply chain resilience, infrastructure development and now, connectivity,” Marcos said.
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