Snake bites Air Force man near plane taking Marcos to India

A reticulated python, locally known as “sawa,” caused quite a stir at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Monday morning, hours before President Marcos left for his five-day visit to India.
The around meter-long snake was found in a grassy area outside the Maharlika presidential lounge inside the base, several meters away from the plane taking Mr. Marcos to India.
The nonvenomous snake was placed in a sack and turned over to authorities, but not before it bit the hand of an Air Force personnel who was immediately taken to a hospital for an antitetanus shot.
“It’s highly possible that it (snake) migrated from one area to another. The area is very porous. The base is near the airport; the drainage systems are interconnected,” Philippine Air Force commanding general Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura told reporters.
The presidential plane carrying Marcos left Villamor Air Base at 10:44 a.m. It landed in New Delhi at 2:20 p.m. local time (4:50 p.m. in Manila).
Deeper cooperation
Before his departure, Mr. Marcos said he hoped his visit would lead to “a deeper, broader and more meaningful bilateral cooperation, both in the immediate future and up to our longer-term horizons, that will ultimately serve the peace, the stability and prosperity for our two nations and the wider Indo-Pacific region.”
According to Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs Assistant Secretary Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines and India are expected to sign at least six agreements.
President Marcos said he will engage in high-level meetings with key Indian leaders, business forums and investment discussions in New Delhi and Bengaluru, which is considered the “Silicon Valley of India.”
He added that his visit will also bring home “concrete” benefits for Filipinos, such as more affordable medicine and greater connectivity and food security.
“It is incumbent upon us, now more than ever, to maximize the opportunities in trade and investment with the world’s fourth largest economy,” Mr. Marcos said.
“India has been a long valued friend of the Philippines … I look forward to a productive visit and much closer Philippines-India relations,” he added.
The invitation for Mr. Marcos to go on a state visit to India was extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two countries are marking their 75th year of diplomatic relations, dating back to November 1949. —WITH A REPORT FROM VERLEEN DASIGAN