Claim: Mainstream media did not report the courtesy call of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The post containing the claim has over 9,100 likes, 553 comments, and 241,595 views on YouTube, as of writing.

Reported by media: The courtesy call of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Marcos was reported by GMA News Online, Manila Bulletin, and BusinessMirror.

What was discussed? According to a tweet posted by the official Twitter account of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry on September 29, 2022, Marcos and Prince Faisal “reviewed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries based on friendliness and joint cooperation in various fields.”

A short video of the courtesy call released by Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) on September 29, 2022, showed Prince Faisal signing the guest book of Malacañang Palace.

Who were in the meeting? Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, and Presidential Management Staff chief Ma. Zenaida Angping joined Marcos in meeting the Saudi foreign minister.

Diplomatic relations: The Philippines implemented a ban on Filipino workers’ deployment to Saudi Arabia on November 2021, due to reported billions worth of unpaid wages of Filipino construction workers and allegations of a retired general abusing several Filipino workers. The ban is set to be lifted on November 2022. – Lorenz Pasion/Rappler.com

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