Deals with Indonesia to be signed during Marcos visit

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Indonesia will enter into key agreements meant to enhance the two countries’ defense capabilities and strengthen cultural ties during President Marcos’ three-day state visit to Jakarta starting this Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

President Marcos will witness the signing of a “Plan of Action” – which lay outs a comprehensive and actionable roadmap for bilateral cooperation over the next five years from 2022 to 2027 – during his inaugural state visit, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said yesterday at a Palace media briefing.

The agreement will be signed by the DFA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Indonesia.

Daza said the Department of National Defense and the Ministry of Defense of Indonesia would also sign the renewal of the 1997 Agreement on Cooperative Activities in the Field of Defense and Security.

Daza also confirmed that the two Southeast Asian nations would also enter into a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation, to be signed by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Ministry of Education and Culture Indonesia.

The President will also meet with the Filipino community in Indonesia to personally assure them of the government’s commitment to protect their rights. He will also meet with business leaders to promote trade and investments.

Meanwhile, Daza could not give additional updates when asked about the President’s plan to take up the case of Mary Jane Veloso – the Filipina on death row in Indonesia – with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Daza also could not provide details when asked whether Marcos would visit Veloso in jail.

“I am not privy to the information on that…He’s there from (Sept.) 4 to 6 and because this is a state visit there are a number of activities that are already been lined up so I do not have info on that specific question,” she said.

Counterterror, data privacy

The Philippines will sign agreements on counterterrorism and data privacy as well as various investment deals during President Marcos’ state visit to Singapore from Sept. 6 to 7, the DFA said yesterday.

Daza said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Singapore Armed Forces would sign an agreement on the assignment of a Filipino representative to the Counter Terrorism Information Facility — a multilateral platform for monitoring, research and analysis of terrorist activities.

The two countries, Daza said, will also enter into a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and personal data protection, which will be signed by the National Privacy Commission and the Personal Data Protection Commission of Singapore. Marcos and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will witness the signing of the agreements.

The Philippine delegation will also attend an economic briefing and business roundtable meetings to invite investments into the Philippines aimed at creating more job opportunities in the country, according to Daza.

Daza said Marcos would hold separate meetings with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee to discuss the close bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as regional and global issues.