In this November 12, 2017, photo, US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during a special gala celebration dinner for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Manila. (Pool photo by ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA via AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang reiterated Thursday its neutrality in the ongoing US presidential elections, saying that the Philippines can work with any US president as the country shares a long-standing “close friendship” with its former colonizer.
US President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden were in a close race to win the seat in the White House. As of writing time, Biden is leading the count with 264 electoral votes against Trump’s 214. The candidate to hit 270 votes wins the polls.
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“Kahit sino po ang manalo, wala pong problema ang ating Presidente,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised press briefing.
(It does not matter who win. It won’t be a problem for our President.)
“We can work with any President because we have had a long history of very close friendship with the United States,” he added.
This is a reiteration of Roque’s earlier remarks where he said that the Palace doesn’t see any major changes whoever wins the US elections.
President Rodrigo Duterte was among notable world leaders who have been vocal about wanting Trump to remain as US President for four more years. He has also referred to Trump as his “friend” in previous speeches.
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As early as February, Duterte urged US citizens with Filipino lineage to vote for Trump.
But if Biden wins, Roque is confident that Duterte can establish an “equally warm personal relations” with the former US Vice President.