Marcos to Prioritize Domestic Concerns,Will Not Attend UN General Assembly
MANILA,Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not participate in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) general debates, Malacañang announced Monday, September 15th.The decision marks a shift from his previous attendance in 2022, months after assuming office.
According to Communications Secretary Dave Gomez, Marcos has delegated his UNGA engagements to Foreign Affairs secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro “to allow him to focus on local issues.”
The 80th session of the UNGA begins with the general debate on September 23rd. Had he attended, Marcos was expected to advocate for the Philippines’ bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a campaign publicly launched during the 77th UNGA session. The election for the seat, representing the Asia-Pacific group alongside kyrgyzstan, is scheduled for mid-2026, with the term running from 2026 to 2027.
Details regarding Secretary Lazaro’s specific engagements at the UNGA have not been released by either the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Palace.
The announcement comes amidst heightened scrutiny of infrastructure projects in the Philippines, including investigations into alleged irregularities and conflicts of interest surrounding flood control initiatives. On September 15th, President Marcos announced the formation of an autonomous commission to investigate flood control and infrastructure projects undertaken over the past decade.
