Marcos attending APEC meet in South Korea

President Marcos is expected to bring home more investments for the Philippines during his attendance at the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in South Korea, despite the corruption scandal currently hounding his administration, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

- By BELLA CARIASO

Under the theme, "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow, Connect, Innovate, Prosper," the meeting is set to take place in Gyeongju, South Korea from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.

"The meeting will gather leaders and representatives from APEC's 21 member economies," DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona told a press conference at Malacañang.

"(This is an) opportunity for us to get more investments from the Republic of Korea," she added.

Escalona said Marcos' participation will focus on advancing the Philippines' economic interests, forging deeper ties with APEC members and reaffirming the country's commitment to APEC's vision of a more open, prosperous and dynamic Asia-Pacific region in a rapidly changing global landscape.

She also noted that South Korea has clarified reports claiming that President Lee Jae-myung ordered the suspension of a P28.8-billion loan to the Philippines due to alleged corruption risks.

"They reassured us of their support for advancing development cooperation with the Philippines," said Escalona.

Escalona maintained that ongoing protest actions against corruption would not affect investor confidence in the country.