Marcos to attend inauguration of Indonesian president-elect, VP-elect

COURTESY CALL President Marcos greets Indonesia’s President-elect Prabowo Subianto in Malacañang Palace in this file photo in September 2024. INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will attend the inauguration of President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka of Indonesia on Sunday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said on Saturday.

PCO said in a statement that the couple’s visit to Indonesia for the inauguration “reaffirms the deep and enduring friendship between the two nations, founded on close people-to-people ties.”

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Indonesia and Philippines’ diplomatic ties.

Further, Subianto, in a courtesy call with Marcos at the Malacañan Palace last September, vowed to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Marcos then said that Subianto’s visit in the country is a testament of the growing relationship of the two nations.

Subianto will take over President Joko Widodo. Widodo has been Indonesia’s president since 2014.

READ: Prabowo set to lead bolder Indonesia on world stage

Meanwhile, former Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said in September that the two nations agreed to institutionalize police force cooperation following the arrest of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo (real name: Guo Hua Ping) in Indonesia.

READ: More Asean nations offer help on South China Sea issue

Marcos recently attended the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Laos where he said that “more than half” of ASEAN countries offered to help the country amid China’s continued attacks over the South China Sea.