NAIA Terminal II, Pasay City
24 April 2013

President Benigno S. Aquino III was accorded departure honors as he left the country to attend the 22nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Brunei Darussalam.

In his departure speech, President Aquino will push talks concerning the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). He added that he will convince other leaders to initiate a Code of Conduct that will take effect in a matter of time.

“Sa pagtitipong ito, muli tayong nabibigyan ng pagkakataong ibahagi sa ating mga karatig-bansa ang saloobin ng Pilipinas ukol sa mga napapanahong isyu, at ang kahandaan ng mga Pilipinong makipagtulungan sa iba’t-ibang larangan,” he said.

The President will return to the country tomorrow after the Summit.

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