President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not talk about the Russia-Ukraine conflict at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, where Russia is expected to attend​, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.
In a press briefing, DFA Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations Gerardo Tamayo said this is because the Philippines already issued its stand on the matter in a different forum, which is more "appropriate" for its issuance.
"It is certainly something that a political issue that we have made pronouncements on, in other platforms and not necessarily APEC," Tamayo said, although the government, through DFA Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Daniel Espiritu, acknowledged that the Ukraine-Russia conflict has impacts on "global economy and stagflation."
The Philippines supported a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution, which condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Instead, Tamayo said, the government will focus on economic issues that have impacts on the region.
Holding a bilateral talk with Russia is also not the government's top priority at APEC, which will take place in Bangkok from Nov. 14 to 19, Tamayo said.
But he assured the public that the President will discuss with his fellow state leaders his push for food security as well as his concerns on rising food prices.
"This is something that each economy actually is concerned about: the rising inflation and how this is impacting on our efforts to facilitate rapid economic recovery in the region," he said.