Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to visit Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will make an official visit to Manila next week to meet with President Duterte, Malacañang officials said yesterday.

It would be the second meeting between the two leaders, following their meeting last July 16 in Perdana Putra, Putrajaya, Malaysia.   

Mahathir, who recently won the elections, and Duterte also watched the July 15 bout of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao against Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Duterte will officially welcome the 93-year-old Prime Minister at ceremonies in Malacañang on Thursday, after which the two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting to survey and discuss the cooperation in political, economic and people-to-people spheres as well as exchange views on the topics of mutual importance.

During his visit, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

The official visit came about a week after Duterte swore in new members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority that will supervise the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

As a third-party facilitator between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Malaysia has been helping the Philippines in peace negotiations with Muslim groups in Mindanao.  – With Pia Lee-Brago