Joko Widodo arrives in Palace for meeting with Marcos

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday arrived in Malacañang Palace to meet President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. 

Jokowi, in Manila from January 10 to 11 for an official visit, will have a bilateral meeting with Marcos and other top Philippine officials with the aim to deepen the relationship between the Philippines and Indonesia.

Marcos and some of his Cabinet members welcomed Jokowi and the entire Indonesian delegation at the Kalayaan Grounds inside Malacañang compound. 

After the arrival ceremony, Jokowi signed the guestbook at the Reception Hall. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said Marcos' meeting with Jokowi is anticipated to improve the ties between the Philippines and Indonesia following the successful state visit of the Filipino leader to Jakarta in September 2022. 

In previous meetings with Jokowi, Marcos discussed the case of Filipina Mary Jane Veloso, who is currently on Indonesia's death row for drug-related charges.

The Philippine President vowed that his administration would continue to work for the commutation of sentence or pardon for Veloso.

On Tuesday, the Philippine government once again appealed for clemency for Veloso. Reports said that Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo sought clemency for the Filipina in 2022.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News