An inverted Philippine flag was displayed during the bilateral meeting of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday, September 6.
In the photos released by MCA Pool, both flags of the Philippines and Canada were displayed in the background of the two officials’ bilateral meeting that took place on the sidelines of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.
However, it was seen that the red side of the country’s flag was placed above the blue.
Based on Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8491, if the country’s flag is in a hanging position, “the blue field shall be to the right in time of peace, and the red field to the right in time of war.”
LOOK: Bandila ng Pilipinas sa bilateral meeting ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, baliktad | via RH 52 @ednielparrosa
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) September 6, 2023
📷: MCA Pool #SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/EBShM3RwKV
In a statement, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Usec Ma. Theresa Lazaro said the upside-down PH flag was "an honest mistake that had nothing to do with our protocol officers."
"But the battle of the socks continues," she added.
Marcos was joined by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual during the said bilateral meeting.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Trudeau invited the President to visit Canada in 2024, the year that marks the two countries' 75th year of diplomatic ties.
"As a response, Marcos said he was equally happy to meet the Canadian leader again to discuss all of the issues that are really in the process of evolution including the Philippine diaspora," it said in a press release.
