Brunei Sultan Flies His Own Plane to the Philippines to Attend ASEAN Summit

According to Cebu Daily News on Thursday (7/5/2026), Bolkiah arrived at Mactan-Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in the Philippines on Wednesday (6/5) evening local time. He was seen sitting in the cockpit seat. Behind him was his son, Prince Abdul Mateen, accompanying him. Upon disembarking from the plane, Bolkiah and his son were welcomed by the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Rex Gatchalian, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cynthia King-Chan. Cebu City in the Philippines has been selected as the venue for the 48th ASEAN Summit. The main events are being held in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City. All leaders from ASEAN member countries are expected to attend the summit, except for Myanmar, which will be represented by its Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs. In a report from detikcom, this is not the first time Sultan Bolkiah has piloted his private plane to another country to attend a state event. In 2013, he also flew a plane to the United States (US) to meet then-US President Barack Obama. The Sultan of Brunei met Obama on 12 March 2013 at the White House. As reported by the Washington Post and cited by The Star on Wednesday (13/3/2013), Obama told the Sultan of Brunei that he was ready to attend the ASEAN Summit in Brunei in October 2013. Obama said he was prepared to discuss important issues regarding trade, energy, and climate change. “He himself flew to the US yesterday by piloting his own 747 plane. I think he is the only head of state who pilots his own state aircraft. If Air Force One (the US Presidential Plane) ever has a problem, I know who to consult,” Obama remarked. (ygs/eva)