Palace clarifies Marcos’ absence in ASEAN-Japan photo

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Malacañang clarified that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was absent from the official group photo at the ASEAN-Japan Summit on Oct. 26 because he was still in an extended bilateral meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the time.

In a briefing with reporters, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president’s absence had been misinterpreted on social media and stressed that he fully attended the summit itself.

“Like to clarify that,” Castro began. “Opo, kasi mukhang hindi nabibigyan ng tamang kwento o konteksto ‘yung nangyari,” she said.

[Translation: Yes, because it seems the full context of what happened hasn’t been properly explained.]

“Naipaliwanag din po sa atin, sinabi din po ni Sec. Dave Gomez, na nangyari po ‘yung kanilang photo ops habang ang Pangulo ay nasa extended bilateral meeting pa with the UN,” she added.

[Translation: It was also explained to us by Secretary Dave Gomez that the photo opportunity took place while the president was still in an extended bilateral meeting with the UN.]

“So liwanagin lang po natin: wala po ang pangulo sa photo ops, pero umattend po siya sa summit. Nagkataon lang po na nung nagkaroon sila ng photo ops, ang pangulo ay nasa meeting pa,” Castro clarified.

[Translation: Let’s be clear: the president wasn’t there during the photo opportunity, but he attended the summit. It just so happened that the photo session coincided with his ongoing meeting.]

A viral photo earlier showed ASEAN and Japanese leaders posing for the traditional handshake at the ASEAN-Japan Summit in Kuala Lumpur, with Marcos noticeably missing. The image prompted speculation about his whereabouts during the event.

The palace said the president’s schedule overlapped with the bilateral talks with the UN chief, which extended beyond the expected time. Marcos later joined the ASEAN-Japan Summit after completing the meeting.