MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN): President Ferdinand Marcos Jr departed for New York in the United States on Sunday to attend meetings at the United Nations headquarters on March 9–10 and call for peace in the Middle East.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the plane carrying Marcos and other Cabinet members took off at 10:22 a.m. from Villamor Air Base.
Joining the President are First Lady Liza Marcos, Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., and Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez.
According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Angelica Escalona, Marcos’ visit was “very important,” as the UN is the most appropriate place to call for peace in the Middle East and for the safety of all civilians, especially the more than 2 million Filipinos in the region.
“The President will offer a voice from our region, from developing countries, and call for restraint, respect for international law including the UN charter and humanitarian law and for all concerned to return to the negotiating table for peace,” she said.
Marcos is also scheduled to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss developments in the Middle East.
The President has no scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump.
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Marcos will also address a special session of the UN General Assembly to rally additional support for the country’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2027 to 2028.
The President will also speak at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. -- Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network
