Netizens were quick to notice the absence of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in a group photo of Southeast Asian leaders during the 28th ASEAN–Japan Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The photo, shared by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on its official Facebook page last Friday, October 26, showed the ASEAN leaders posing alongside Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female head of government.
“Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Summit adopted a Joint Statement on Further Promotion and Implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to advancing cooperation under the AOIP,” the caption read.
The ASEAN post further noted that the gathering reviewed the progress of ASEAN-Japan cooperation and discussed its future direction under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between both sides.
However, what caught the attention of many online users was the absence of President Marcos from the official group photo — prompting speculation and questions in the comment section.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) shared on Monday, October 27, that President Marcos was indeed present at another ASEAN event — the 3rd Asia Zero-Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders’ Meeting, where he was seen joining other ASEAN heads of state.
The Palace has yet to issue a statement explaining the President’s absence from the earlier photo, but images released by the PCO confirmed his active participation in subsequent ASEAN sessions in Kuala Lumpur.