Palace confirms Marcos' weekend trip to Singapore, says it was productive

Malacañang confirmed on Monday that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was in Singapore over the weekend, calling the visit a productive one.

"Naging produktibo ang pagdalaw sa Singpore ni Pangulong Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. Pinagpatibay niya ang mga pangunahing usapan sa huling state visit sa bayan na ito, at pinatuloy ang paghihikayat sa pag invest sa bayang Pilipinas," Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles wrote on Facebook in her caption for a re-post of Singapore politician Tan See Leng's post.

(President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.'s visit to Singapore was productive. He affirmed what were discussed in his last state visit, and continued to encourage investments to the Philippines.)

In his Facebook post, Tan See Leng wrote: "Congratulations to Sergio Perez for winning the Singapore Grand Prix! Happy to meet various Heads of States, Ministers and foreign dignitaries (including Bongbong Marcos, President Surangel Whipps Jr., Cambodia's Minister attached to the Prime Minister and Managing Director of Electricite Du Cambodge (EDC), Keo Rottanak, Cambodia's Minister of Commerce, Pan Sorasak, Advisor to the Royal Court, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Fahad Bin Abdullah Toonsi) to affirm our bilateral economic relationships and strengthen collaborations in energy cooperation as well as exchange views on manpower policies on the sidelines of the race."

Tan See Leng is Singapore's minister for manpower and second minister for trade and industry.

The Singapore Grand Prix was held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit from September 30 to October 2. Red Bull Racing's Mexican driver Sergio Perez won the race.

In a separate Facebook post, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he was happy to see spectators from all around the world visiting Singapore just to attend it.

"It is yet another sign that we have emerged from the pandemic and are open for business," Lee said.

Among the photos posted by Lee was that of Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

He captioned the collage with: "Happy to link up again with friends from both here and abroad. They were excited to be here, to watch the race and enjoy the good company."

Reports came out over the weekend that Marcos flew to Singapore on Saturday afternoon for a two-day visit to watch the event.

House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos, son of President Marcos, was also at the event on Saturday as seen in a photo uploaded on the official website of the Singapore Grand Prix.

Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. on Sunday slammed Marcos for his Singapore trip, saying it was “insensitive, unnecessary and irresponsible” of the President, considering that the Philippines was in the midst of an economic crisis. 

Marcos was in Singapore from September 6 to 7 for a state visit, during which he held separate meetings with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong regarding bilateral relations and other matters. —With a report from Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News