Aquino to meet Obama in May or June – US envoy

BALI HIGH. President Aquino meets with US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the Asean Summit in Bali on Friday. The American president invited Mr. Aquino to the White House early next year. MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III and US President Barack Obama will be meeting at the White House in either May or June, US Ambassador Harry Thomas told reporters in Malacañang on Friday.

In an interview after the annual New Year’s vin d’ honneur, Thomas said there would also be a bilateral strategic meeting in Washington in late January between foreign affairs and defense officials of the two countries, and ministerial meetings “sometime in March.”

Thomas said Foreign Affairs Albert Del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin would be in Washington around that time to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Over the weekend until Monday, US legislators – including US senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman – are expected to arrive in the Philippines “to have the opportunity to meet the President and his Cabinet, and their counterparts.”

“So we really have four things: bilateral strategic dialogue, secretaries of defense and foreign affairs meeting each other, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, and then President Obama and President Aquino,” Thomas said.

Asked what the agenda would be between Mr. Aquino and Obama, Thomas said, “That’s for the Presidents to decide.”

Pressed by a reporter to comment on whether the US will help in maintaining the peace in the WPS (or West Philippine Sea), Thomas said, “What’s the WPS?” Told that it’s the West Philippine Sea, Thomas said “Oh, wow!” before bursting into laughter.

The Philippines started calling the South China Sea the West Philippine Sea last year amid the territorial dispute brought about by China’s incursions into Philippine territory in the region.

Turning a bit more serious, Thomas said the US takes no sides in the issue between the Philippines and China over the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

Still, Thomas brought to mind the US’ assistance to the Philippines in terms of military hardware.

“We very much think that everything should be resolved at the negotiating table, through a multilateral effort. We very much support the Code of Conduct [among parties in the West Philippine Sea],” Thomas said.

“At the same time, recall that the United States is the largest provider of military assistance to the Philippines, has been for the past 10 years,” he added.

Amid the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China, the US gave a Hamilton-class cutter to the Philippines. It has been renamed the BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

“[It] is now the largest ship in your Navy and we’re looking for other ways to assist especially in the areas of maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” Thomas said.