Roxas to attend birthday of Brunei head of state

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. AP FILE PHOTO

In behalf of President Benigno Aquino III, Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II will attend the birthday celebration of Brunei Darussalam’s head of state Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah on Saturday.

Upon the personal invitation of the Sultan, Roxas will fly to Brunei Darussalam to attend the 69th birthday of Bolkiah which will “bring together leaders and representatives from the international community.”

“On this brief yet important visit, Roxas brings with him the best wishes of President Aquino and the Filipino people for a leader who has demonstrated and continues to exemplify kindness, solidarity, and benevolence to the 21,000 Filipinos who live productive, dignified lives in Brunei today,” a statement from the Department of Interior and Local Government said on Friday.

Roxas is the presidential candidate of the ruling Liberal Party for the 2016 national elections.

The statement said Roxas’ presence in the celebration serves also as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship of the country with its partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“It is also an opportunity to strengthen at the highest levels of governance the already robust relationship enjoyed by the Philippines and our partner nation in the ASEAN, and for the Secretary to interact with officials and leaders of other foreign governments, who have expressed interest and support for the resurgence of the Philippines,” it said. CDG