Bongbong Marcos (left) and US President Joe Biden
MANILA, Philippines — US president Joe Biden spoke with presumptive Philippine president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. following the national elections, expressing his intentions to continue strengthening the alliance between the two countries.
The White House said that the conversation happened on May 11 (US time), wherein Biden congratulated Marcos Jr.
“President Biden underscored that he looks forward to working with the President-elect to continue strengthening the U.S.-Philippine Alliance, while expanding bilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues, including the fight against COVID-19, addressing the climate crisis, promoting broad-based economic growth, and respect for human rights,” the White House said.
Atty. Vic Rodriguez, Marcos Jr.’s spokesperson, said Thursday that the Philippines’ relationship with the United States “will get better” under the presumptive president’s administration.
“As far as our relationship with the United States, under the administration of president-elect Bongbong, I assure you now that it will get better,” Rodriguez said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
“I assure you and the Filipino people that our relationship with the United States will be better and as we speak I think I am at liberty to say we are expecting a call from the president of the United States to president-elect Bongbong,” he added.
Rodriguez said that the foreign policy of Marcos Jr. will be “inclusive” while also ensuring that the interests of the Filipino people come first and are never compromised.
“What I can tell you, you can expect and look forward to a better relationship with our longtime partner and ally, the United States. The foreign policy of president-elect Bongbong, it would be inclusive,” Rodriguez said.
“We will not be exclusive to anyone. The interest of the Filipino people and the national interest comes first and will never be compromised especially on our territorial integrity. It will never be compromised,” he added.