President Benigno S. Aquino III (Malacañang Photo Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III left the country on Saturday night for his four-nation European tour with high hopes of gaining confidence and possibly investments from at least four countries.
This official tour in the region is said to be his first as he aims to bring back European investments upon his return to the country.
Aquino boarded a chartered Philippine Airlines flight (PR 001) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.
The plane left NAIA at 9:50 p.m. despite the bad weather caused by Tropical Storm “Luis,” which is expected to make landfall in Aurora on Sunday.
At least 18 domestic flights to and from Manila have been cancelled as of Saturday night.
“Layunin po natin na pataasin ang kumpyansa sa atin mga kasapi ng European Union,” Aquino said in his departure speech.
In attendance at the send-off ceremony were Vice President Jejomar Binay and members of his Cabinet.
He will be joined in the European tour by 12 Cabinet officials, making his first stop in Madrid, Spain. It will be followed by trips to Belgium, France and Germany.
Afterward, he will head to the United States for the United Nations Global Climate Change Summit.
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