Hassanal Bolkiah, GCB GCMG, the 29th and current Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei, arrived early Wednesday evening at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, making him the first ASEAN head of state to arrive for this week’s 30TH ASEAN Summit.
The Sultan was welcomed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.
From the airport, he went straight to Makati Shangri-la Hotel to rest, ahead of an expectedly busy day on Thursday.
The Sultan will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Manila, and later meet with President Rodrigo Duterte at Malacañan Palace, where a State Banquet has also been scheduled.
The national flags of the Philippines and Brunei have been raised at Malacañang.
This is the first visit of the Sultan during the Duterte administration.
He will be welcomed at formal ceremonies on Wednesday afternoon for his formal meeting with President Duterte, where trade and security issues are likely to be discussed. (With a report from Maricel Haliili, News5)
