Marcos sees stronger, deeper Philippines-Indonesia ties

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos is looking forward to “stronger and deeper” relations with Indonesia under President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who paid him a courtesy visit at Malacañang yesterday.

Prabowo’s visit to the Philippines came ahead of his inauguration as Indonesia’s eighth president next month.

“We are about to celebrate our 75th year of relations this November and I think your visit here today will certainly bring a new impetus to making that relationship between Indonesia and the Philippines stronger and deeper,” Marcos told Prabowo.

“I think it bodes well for our two countries that you have come to visit with the Philippines and shows that the growing relationship between our two countries has been at a very strong level for many, many years and many, many aspects of the people-to-people, on the political, on the diplomatic,” he said.

Prabowo, a former defense minister, will succeed Indonesia President Joko Widodo on Oct. 20.

“I would like to thank you for receiving me at short notice. I came here today to pay my respects because exactly one month from now, on the 20th of October, God willing, I will be inaugurated as president of the Republic of Indonesia,” Prabowo told Marcos.

“And perhaps it’s the Asian way, our custom, before we enter into a new position. We call on our friends,” he said.

Prabowo said his visit also aimed to reaffirm his commitment to strengthen the already close ties between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.

“We have common roots, cultural, historical and by the fact that we are very close neighbors, it behooves us, I think, to always support each other and to work together closely in all fields,” the President said.

Marcos gifted Prabowo with a Philippine map made of shells.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos earlier said the two countries have agreed to institutionalize cooperation between their police forces following the capture of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo in Indonesia early this month.

Marcos had said his trips to Indonesia have helped him gain friends, who helped in the return of Guo.

Guo is being linked to illegal offshore gaming operations and other illegal activities in the Philippines.