Marcos upbeat on Malaysia, Brunei continued support for Mindanao

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed optimism that Brunei and Malaysia will continue to support the development initiatives in Mindanao to uplift the living condition of its people, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

Marcos welcomed Brunei’s Ambassador Megawati Dato Paduka Haji Manan and Malaysian Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Bin Anthony in Malacañang Palace on Thursday.

“We have to thank Brunei for the assistance and support that we have been receiving in the Southern Philippines, in the Muslim Autonomous Region, which have been big factor in what we think is going to be a successful Autonomous Region,” Marcos said.

“So again, I hope that Brunei continues to give our Muslim community in the Southern Philippines whatever opportunities are available because that is the best way to assert that having peace is to give a good life to the people, a life that they would like to deserve,” he added.

Marcos said the government will continue to bring development initiatives in Mindanao that will boost economic activity, improve the people's living conditions and make them shun violence.

In response, the Brunei envoy said strengthening cooperation with the southern region has always been the foreign nation's goal because of its commonalities with its people.

“And so we hope that we will branch out, you know, expand the existing cooperation to give some – a little bit more opportunities for the south side,” Manan told the President.

Marcos and Manan also highlighted the  importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in resolving regional concerns such as the South China Sea issue and the civil unrest in Myanmar.

The President also recognized Kuala Lumpur’s role in bringing peace to the Southern Philippines, expecting it to continue participating in the development of the Bangsamoro region.

“It’s going to be very, very important because as long as we can provide... One of the complaints over the many, many years from the Muslim community in the Philippines was that they are underrepresented and underdeveloped. And they were absolutely right. So we are trying to fix that. We are trying to return a balance,” Marcos said.

The Malaysian ambassador said he believes that the contributions of Malaysia so far will help sustain the progress of Mindanao.—LDF, GMA Integrated News