By Junex Doronio
MANILA — After the “very productive discussions” between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Australian government on Thursday ((29 Feb 2024) said it would provide a $20 million investment to support the Philippine government in reforming its justice system.
Marcos Jr. is in Australia on an official visit, before he attends a special summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Melbourne next week.
”The Prime Minister also announced a new $20 million investment to support the Philippines to reform, and improve access to, its justice system,” the office of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.
The Australian Prime Minister pointed out that the ties between the Philippines and Australia are ”strengthened by warm and close personal connections, including through the over 400,000 Australians with Filipino heritage who make a wonderful contribution to modern multicultural Australia.”
”I look forward to continuing to work with the Philippines and with President Marcos to meet the challenges of our times and realize our shared vision for an open, peaceful, stable, and prosperous region,” Albanese said.
The Australian leader disclosed that he and Marcos Jr. had very productive discussions focused on driving forward the close collaboration as strategic partners.
Earlier, Marcos Jr. noted that the Philippines and Australia should oppose actions that ”clearly denigrate the rule of law” as he sought for the latter’s support in addressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
(el Amigo/MNM)