Hindi makakadalo si Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo sa nakatakdang ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings.
Paliwanag ng kalihim, ito ay dahil nagpositibo siya sa COVID-19 nitong nagdaang weekend.
“This would have been my first ASEAN engagement in my capacity as Secretary for Foreign Affairs, so it is unfortunate that my absence happens at this important time,” pahayag ni Manalo.
Idaraos ang ika-55 ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings sa Phnom Penh, Cambodia ngayong linggo.
Gayunman, siniguro ng kalihim na hindi maaapektuhan ang partisipasyon ng Pilipinas sa AMM.
“The Philippines’ participation will not be affected, as it will be ably represented by DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, Hon. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, in the said meetings,” ani Manalo.
Sinabi ng kalihim na tututukan nito ang paggaling upang agad makabalik sa trabaho sa kagawaran.
“I will concentrate on recovery so I can go back to working at DFA as soon as possible, and I look forward to the next opportunity to meet with ASEAN colleagues and our Dialogue Partners,” saad nito.