FILE PHOTO/Screenshot from RTVM
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will skip the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) this month as he has “limited his trips” for the rest of 2024, said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez on Thursday.
According to Romualdez, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo will instead represent Marcos in the assembly, which will be held in New York City from September 22 to 23.
“Sec. Manalo [will attend the UNGA], [The]President is limiting his trips up to the end of the year,” Romualdez told INQUIRER.net.
READ: LIST: Pres. Bongbong Marcos’ overseas trips from 2022-2024
Meanwhile, in a Viber message to reporters, Press Secretary Cesar Chavez said Manalo’s agenda in the assembly includes “articulating the country’s responses to global challenges.”
“[Sec. Manalo] will articulate the country’s responses to global challenges which we assert should be resolved within the framework of peace and cooperation enshrined in the UN Charter,” he said.
Asked if there will be bilateral talks with China on the sidelines of the UNGA, Romualdez responded: “None.”
READ: Marcos has ‘last word’ on any legal action on WPS – SolGen
The Philippines has been embroiled in a long-standing dispute with China, which claims the majority of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, through its so-called “ten-dash line.”
However, China’s claims were effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling, which stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013.
China has consistently ignored the ruling and continued to encroach on the country’s exclusive economic zone.
In response, the Philippines has continued to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the dispute.