Marcos departs for ASEAN Malaysia, to discuss tariffs response

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos take off on Sunday, 25 May, from Villamor Airbase, Pasay en route to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The First Couple will participate in the 46th ASEAN Summit, the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit, and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit. In a statement, the President emphasized the importance of inclusivity and sustainability as guiding principles for this year’s ASEAN agenda. He vowed to champion the Philippines’ positions on pressing regional issues such as the South China Sea, Myanmar, climate change, and the impact of new U.S. tariff policies. The President also reaffirmed the country's support for a rules-based international order and pushed for the creation of a regional framework on ethical artificial intelligence. He is set to engage in high-level meetings with fellow leaders and strengthen diplomatic ties to promote peace, resilience, and sustainable growth in Southeast Asia. PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING