Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (right), along with Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin M. Drilon (second from left) and Senators Bam Aquino, Sonny Angara and Leila de Lima listen to a speech by outgoing United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg (second from right, standing), on Oct. 14 at Makati Shangri-la hotel. PRIB PHOTO BY JOSEPH VIDAL
Senators and diplomats on Friday night hosted a farewell dinner for outgoing United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
The dinner, hosted by Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon at the Makati Shangri-la hotel in Makati City, was attended by Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Senators Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and Leila de Lima.
Despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks against him, the senators earlier expressed their appreciation for Goldberg’s efforts in strengthening the ties between the Philippines and the United States.
Others present in the banquet were United Kingdom Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad with partner Kim del Mundo and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa with wife Yuko Ishikawa.
Goldberg, who assumed his post as US envoy on Dec. 2, 2013, received verbal attacks from the President following his criticism of Duterte during the last elections.
The senators and diplomats pose for a photo during the farewell dinner. From left: British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad and partner Kim del Mundo, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa and wife Yuko Ishikawa, Senate President Koko Pimentel, outgoing US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin M. Drilon and wife Mila Drilon, Sen. Bam Aquino and wife Timi Gomez-Aquino, and Sen. Sonny Angara and wife Elvira Echauz-Angara. PRIB PHOTO BY JOSEPH VIDAL
The US envoy has shrugged off the President’s comments against him.
“I’m a diplomat. I don’t respond to those comments, quite frankly,” Golberg said in a press conference after receiving a commendation at the House of Representatives.
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