President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. on Monday said Formula One Grand Prix racing in Singapore was the “best way to drum up business” for the Philippines.
Marcos made the statement after Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles confirmed his unannounced weekend trip to Singapore and called it a "productive visit".
“They say that playing golf is the best way to drum up business, but I say it's Formula 1. What a productive weekend!” he wrote in a Facebook post.
“It was fulfilling to have been invited alongside several dignitaries and to have met new business friends who showed that they are ready and willing to invest in the Philippines,” Marcos added.
He said more details about how it went would be shared soon.
Marcos posted photos of him with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Singaporean Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng. His wife Liza Araneta-Marcos was also seen at the event.
Cruz-Angeles earlier said Marcos strengthened the talks discussed during his state visit to Singapore last September.
Over the weekend, Marcos drew flak after photos of him together with his son Ilocos 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos and cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez attending the high-class international racing event, went viral on social media.
Various groups lambasted Marcos for his Singapore trip and called it “insensitive, unnecessary and irresponsible“ as the country is still in the middle of a crisis and many Filipinos are still recovering from the impact of typhoon Karding onslaught.
