House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Mannix Dalipe says there's "nothing wrong" with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s weekend trip to Singapore to watch the F1 Grand Prix.
Dalipe, in a chance interview with House of Representatives reporters on the sidelines of the flag-raising ceremony Monday, Oct. 3, underscored that it was the Singaporean government that invited Marcos to the racing spectacle.
Dalipe went as far to say that it was "unavoidable" to invite Marcos to the event given the latter's standing, which according to the congressman was "the leader for Southeast Asia".
"If I'm not mistaken, invitation was for leaders of Southeast Asia. So I think the government officials of Singapore, to my understanding, were inviting officials from the different parts of Southeast Asia.
"I think its so happened that it is an event for them to get together and socialize. Let's face it, right now. If you look at the political landscape of Southeast Asia, si President BBM ang ating kuwan eh, siya ang tumatayong leader for Southeast Asia (President BBM stands as the leader for Southeast Asia)," the majority leader said.
"So hindi mo maiiwasan na imbitahin siya (So it's unavoidable to invite invite) in that event where all other leaders of Southeast Asia are also invited. So I think there's nothing wrong with that," he added.
Dalipe says the invite for Marcos to watch the F1 Grand Prix was probably extended during the latter's state visit to Singapore last month.