One of the diplomats who met with President-elect Bongbong Marcos Wednesday, June 15 said her government is willing to help facilitate a deal for Angola to supply the Philippines with oil.
"We have discovered a lot of oil in Angola, in South Africa," Ambassador of South Africa, Bartinah Ntombizodwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe told local reporters during a press conference at the BBM headquarters in Mandaluyong City.
Minutes earlier, she carried out a courtesy call to the incoming Philippine leader.
Asked by a reporter if there's a commitment to supply the Philippines with oil coming Angola, Radebe-Netshitenzhe said, "We know that there has been a commitment from the Angola in particular and Namibia to say that they will look into it."
"Angola is already the biggest supplier in the Southern Africa. So what we said today, President-elect is that we are open to assist, to facilitate that, but what is important that Angola has got more than 10,000 Filipinos working on the off-shore," she added.
Referring to her courtesy call to Marcos, the South African envoy said that "We also explain the opportunities...that Africa can offer the Philippines."
"Africa is the next...destination, it's the next place of doing business. We have explained that," she said.
Marcos apparently impressed his guest with his knowledge of Africa.
"We're very impressed with the President-elect to find that it's already being addressed and knowledge of what we have as South Africa as a country.
"We're impressed with his knowledge, he has done his studies, he understands that South Africa that not only to have a bilateral and economic relations with Philippines; we've shared a lot common account with the Philippines, being colonized by more than two colonizers," Radebe-Netshitenzhe said.