On the same diplomatic tracks

If one would believe his administration’s worst detractors, heads of states would ignore, if not snub President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM).

As persistently highlighted by bitter critics, PBBM carries the burden of the graft and criminal cases against their family and on the estate of his late namesake father. PBBM along with his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos and eldest sister, Senator Imee Marcos were implicated in these case of alleged ill-gotten wealth amassed during the late president’s 20-year rule in our country.

As it turns out, however, the newly installed President of the Philippines has received a lot of official invitations from world leaders. Among them came from United States (US) President Joe Biden, China’s President Xi Jinping as well as the head of the European Union (EU), all wishing to meet with him possibly in state visit on a mutually agreed date.

Surely, it can be argued that these are nothing but pro forma invitations, or formality accorded to a newly installed head of state.

But many of these official letters of invitation, as a matter of fact, were hand-delivered no less to President Marcos during his inaugural last June 30, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel “Babes” Romualdez disclosed in our weekly “Kapihan sa Manila Bay” virtual news forum last Wednesday. During formal receptions and subsequent meetings and audience at Malacanang Palace, Romualdez noted one of them is a letter from President Biden that US Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff brought with him in Manila inviting President Marcos to come to the US on a state visit.

However, there is also a standing invitation to make a state visit in Beijing that was hand-delivered likewise to President Marcos at Malacanang. Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China came to Manila last week and reiterated the invitation of President Xi as earlier relayed by Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian. It was PBBM’s mother, the former First Lady who brought about the formal establishment of diplomatic ties between Manila and Beijing.

Marcos bashers have earlier went around in social media also claiming the newly elected President would embarrass the Philippines when he embarks on his visit to the US. PBBM supposedly faces arrest over contempt charges pending in a federal court in America.

Romualdez earlier branded them as “fake news” spread in social media. Romualdez revealed that he is in touch with the White House that has “clearly and very strongly said that they would welcome” President Marcos in Washington D.C. when his and that of President Biden’s schedules permit. A second cousin of PBBM, Romualdez has been retained as our country’s Ambassador to the US.

Following traditional protocols, however, the first state visits of the Philippine President must start around its neighbors in the region and fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). According to Romualdez, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), recommended to President Marcos to embark on his initial state visits to nine other members of the ASEAN. President Marcos is slated to attend this year’s ASEAN Leaders’ Summit being hosted and is taking place in Cambodia in November yet this year.

Thus, Romualdez conceded, the state visits to the US and China will have to wait until after the ASEAN swing of President Marcos.

President Marcos though may likely go to the US first when he, along with at least 50 other world leaders will attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City. Romualdez admitted they are encouraging President Marcos to attend the UNGA scheduled between Sept. 20 and 23 this year to address the international community for the first time.

The White House earlier confirmed the attendance to UNGA of President Biden who will also address the entire UN body. The trip of President Marcos though to UNGA will only be considered as an official visit to the US. Hence, Romualdez ruled out any “meeting at the sidelines” between the two Presidents at the UN headquarters in New York City.

Romualdez credited former DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. for being able to get a slot for President Marcos to speak before the UNGA. Incidentally, he added, Locsin also helped in the drafting of the inaugural address of President Marcos. After all, Romualdez cited, President Marcos and Locsin once worked together and became “friends” while they were still both members of the 14th Congress from 2007-2010.

“He (Marcos) always acted presidential without effort; smiled over our usual bad jokes but never uproariously on the floor like the rest of us,” Locsin recalled. The young Marcos was then Congressman of the second district of Ilocos Norte while Locsin was Representative of first district of Makati City. Favorite speechwriter of past presidents of our country, Locsin would also likely pass upon the draft of the maiden state of the nation address (SONA) of PBBM at the joint opening sessions of the 19th Congress on July 25.

Friendships aside, PBBM chose career diplomat, ambassador Enrique Manalo to be his new Foreign Affairs Secretary. Manalo is currently in New York to wind down his office there as the Philippine Representative to the UN previously headed by Locsin. Last week, PBBM named another career diplomat, Antonio Manuel Lagdameo to take over as new permanent representative to the UN. Romualdez believes PBBM would appoint Locsin as ambassador to a country of significance to the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Romualdez was informed about the arrival next week of the new US Ambassador to the Philippines, career diplomat Mary Kay Carlson. Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim Heather Variava headed the US embassy in Manila for almost two years now.

As the country’s chief foreign policy architect, President Marcos declared the Philippines will engage with all countries on the same diplomatic track and not just with the US and China. This is consistent with an existing policy that the Philippines is a friend to all, enemy to none. Locsin added a twist: “But worse enemy to a false friend.”