Sultan of Brunei pays courtesy call on Malacañang

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei paid a courtesy call on President Benigno S.C. Aquino at Malacañang on Tuesday, a television report said. The Sultan was welcomed with full military honors upon his arrival at the Palace on the second day of his state visit to the Philippines, Theresa Andrada reported on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali.” At their meeting, the two leaders may have touched on the two countries' claims in the West Philippine Sea and on Brunei’s upcoming chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Andrada said. The sultanate will host the 22nd ASEAN summit on April 24 and 25. The Palace earlier noted that the Sabah issue was not part of the discussion's agenda. This is the Sultan's first state visit under the current administration. He last visited the country in 2009. — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/BM, GMA News