PBBM eyes stronger ties with Colombia, Cambodia, Ukraine

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sees stronger diplomatic ties with Colombia, Cambodia and Ukraine as he welcomed the new envoys from each country on Tuesday.

Marcos received the new resident ambassadors in Malacañang as they presented their credentials.

The first to meet the President was Ambassador Edgar Rodrigo Rojas Garavito of Colombia to whom

Marcos said he looked forward to exploring many mutual interests.

“I believe there’s more that we can do, that we can explore many other sectors, and strengthen and deepen the relations between our two countries,” Marcos told Garavito.

In response, Garavito highlighted his country’s shared aspirations with the Philippines for “lasting peace and development.”

Diplomatic ties between the two countries were established on 5 July 1946. According to government data, nearly 100 Filipinos reside in Colombia.

Marcos then welcomed Cambodian Ambassador Sin Saream and stressed the strong foundation between the two countries.

“I welcome you to the Philippines and I look forward to an even stronger relationship between our two countries, to strengthen what is already a very strong union,” the President said.

The Cambodian envoy conveyed his commitment to further enhancing cooperation between Manila and Phnom Penh “for the mutual benefit and prosperity” of Filipinos and Cambodians.

The Philippines and Cambodia have maintained diplomatic relations since 20 August 1957, benefitting approximately 7,500 Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Ambassador Yuliia Oleksandrivna Fediv expressed her readiness to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly through “collective efforts that promote peace, prosperity, and mutual respect across borders.”

Marcos, for his part, reiterated Manila’s unwavering support for all efforts to find just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

“We hope to continue, we will always support you in your efforts for peace. And we are very happy to welcome you here and to be able to have conversations with you as to what else we in the Philippines, though far away, might be able to do to help our quest for peace,” he said.

Philippines-Ukraine diplomatic relations began on 7 April 1992. There are around 24 Filipinos currently residing in Ukraine.