President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo quickly went to work on the first day of Widodo’s three-day state visit, discussing a range of regional issues, including the South China Sea territorial issue with China.

Following the bilateral meeting on Wednesday (January 10), Marcos described the dialogue fruitful and honest as they discussed the South China sea controversy.

Marcos said both of them committed to uphold the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“The Philippines and Indonesia affirmed our insistence on the universality of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the SEA which sets out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and seas,” the Philippine chief executive said.

Widodo, on the other hand, that they also agreed to work together to strengthen unity and centrality among the Southeast Asian bloc.

Meanwhile, Marcos said he is optimistic Indonesia will grant Filipina Mary Jane Veloso clemency on her conviction on a drug smuggling case.

During his meeting with Widodo, Marcos said that legal interrogatories required from the Regional Trial Court in the Philippines with regards the Veloso case have been sent to Jakarta for her response.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said this will be part of her testimony on the pending case that she filed against her illegal recruiters.

“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed hope that the progression of the case of Ms. Veloso will merit her clemency at the appropriate time,” Lazaro said in a statement.

In the meantime, she said the Philippine government will continuously exhaust all efforts to assist Veloso and her family.