Philippine Ambassador Antonio A. Morales joined his counterparts from ASEAN diplomatic missions in Singapore at the swearing in ceremony of the new president of Singapore Halimah Yacob at the Istana on 14 September 2017.

President Yacob became the first woman and first Malay president of Singapore in 47 years without going through a vote, or through a process called a “walkover”, after the Election Department declared her as the only qualified candidate for this year’s election.

The election was reserved only for candidates from the Malay community.

Ambassador Morales congratulated President Yacob for her assumption as Singapore’s Head of State. He told the President that the Philippine Embassy looks forward to work with her office in further strengthening Philippine-Singapore ties.