Marcos, leaders now in Cebu for 48th Asean Summit

This report is part of Inquirer’s special coverage of Asean 2026: PH hosts 48th summit and related meetings. For real-time updates, follow our live coverage of the regional event.

CEBU, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states have begun arriving in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu Wednesday evening for the 48th Asean Summit and related meetings set for May 7 and 8.

Myanmar’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U Hau Khan Sum, was the first Asean representative to arrive in the Queen City of the South. The plane carrying the envoy landed before noon at Mactan–Benito Ebuen Air Base.

Myanmar was the only country in the regional bloc’s biannual meeting not represented by its president.

Meanwhile, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei landed at around 6:30 p.m.

Marcos followed at 9:14 p.m.

He was initially scheduled to arrive at 7:15 p.m. but needed to first finish all six scheduled events in Metro Manila.

This month’s Asean Summit will center on navigating the impacts of the Middle East conflict, as well as food and energy security and the welfare of migrant workers.

At the Leaders’ Summit on Friday, Asean member states are expected to issue a joint statement condemning the current instability in the Gulf region, which has resulted in global economic disruption.

The Philippines will also endorse three outcome documents during the summit: the proposed Cebu Protocol to Amend the Asean Charter, the Asean Leaders’ Declaration on Maritime Cooperation, and the Asean Leaders’ Statement on the Response to the Middle East Crisis. /das