Obama or Romney? Palace plays it safe

MANILA, Philippines—Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?

It doesn’t matter, according to Malacañang.

On the eve of the US presidential election, the Aquino administration played it safe, saying it was prepared to continue working with President Obama or establish relations with Romney should the Republican challenger take the White House.

“Whoever wins—whether he is Republican or Democrat—we will continue to work with the United States,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told Palace reporters on Monday.

Secretary Ricky Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, said as much.

“The Aquino administration has good relations with Republicans and Democrats and is ready to work closely with whoever is the choice of the American people,” Carandang said in a brief statement.

“We would expect that the current thrust of US-Philippine defense cooperation would remain essentially unchanged regardless of whether Mr. Obama or Mr. Romney wins the election,” he said.