US Secretary of State Pompeo arrives in Philippines

President Rodrigo Duterte welcomes United States Secretary Mike Pompeo at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on February 28, 2018. Malacañang Press Corp Photo

MANILA, Philippines — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the Philippines on Thursday night for a one-day visit to the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed Pompeo who landed at the Villamor Airbase at 9:00 p.m.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddyboy Locsin, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, and DFA Assistant Sec. Lumen Esleta joined Duterte in welcoming Pompeo.

The US delegation includes US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Senior Bureau Official Patrick Murphy, and Robert Palladino, deputy spokesperson of US Department of State.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday that Duterte and Pompeo would be talking about “mutually beneficial” issues between Manila and Washington.

READ: Duterte, US Secretary of State to tackle terrorism, security matters

“Any subject matter that is mutually beneficial to both countries will be discussed or any matter for the Secretary to raise,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

He said the two leaders would be discussing “mutual concerns” like security and terrorism, among others.

Pompeo’s visit to the Philippines comes as Duterte continues to engage in warm bilateral ties with China despite Beijing’s aggression in the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). /ee