Enrique Manalo leaves for US to meet Secretary Marco Rubio

Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said on Saturday that he will meet United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio on June 9 “to discuss matters of mutual interest.”

Manalo said in a statement that he will be leaving the Philippines this Saturday evening for a working visit to the US.

Aside from his meeting with Rubio in Washington DC on June 9, Manalo said he will be having official engagements in New York City next week.

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“During the week, I will have many official engagements in New York, including to keynote the celebration of the 127th Philippine Independence Day, hosted by Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York, and an event in the auspices of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” Manalo said.

He added that he will also meet United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on June 11.

“In my official meetings in New York, I will affirm the unwavering commitment of the Philippines, as a founding member of the United Nations, to remain actively engaged in all discussions to support the UN and work with UN member states for global action on pressing challenges of our time,” said Manalo.

“Solidarity around the principles and the common purpose for international peace and security underpinning the UN Charter must prevail especially as the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary this year,” he added.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin earlier announced that Manalo will be the next Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, in line with the upcoming retirement of Antonio Lagdameo that will take effect on July 31.

Current Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro will then be the next chief of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

This came after Manalo previously submitted his courtesy resignation upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for all of his Cabinet secretaries for an administration revamp.

Manalo will still serve as DFA secretary until the transition is finalized, Bersamin recently said.