By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Prior to his departure for Phnom Penh on Sunday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivered a departure speech at the Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, where he outlined his agendas at his meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, members of the Cabinet, and business leaders.
In his Cambodia visit, which he touts as the “first by a Philippine president over the past nine years,” President Marcos is set to engage in high-level talks with Cambodian government officials to enhance bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including defense, security, trade, economic growth, and higher education.
The Chief Executive said in his speech, “The historic friendship between our peoples dates back centuries, even prior to the formal establishment of our diplomatic relations in 1957. The connections between Filipinos and Cambodians remain vibrant and mutually beneficial to this day.”
He added further, “In the Kingdom of Wonder, that is Cambodia, we have around 7,500 Filipinos that are there [in] the spirit of friendship and camaraderie from the Pearl of the Orient and contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of Cambodian society.”
Meanwhile, President Marcos has assigned Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III as the “designated caretakers” of government operations while he is on his official visit to Cambodia.
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