Negroponte-led delegation due in Manila

MANILA, Philippines–Former US Ambassador to the Philippines John Negroponte will lead the American delegation of the Washington-based US-Philippines Society on a visit to the country from Jan. 29 to 31.

The Philippine embassy in Washington said Negroponte will call on President Aquino.

Negroponte and his delegation will attend the annual board meeting here of the US-Philippines Society, a nonprofit organization launched during President Aquino’s official visit to the United States in 2012. Negroponte cochairs the group with Filipino businessman Manuel Pangilinan.

“Our meeting with President Aquino presents a timely opportunity for us to learn more about all the exciting new developments in the Philippines,” the embassy statement quoted Negroponte as saying.

The group’s board will also meet with the President’s Cabinet.

In the statement, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. said he expected the group to “continue helping us deliver the good news about the Philippines upon their return to the US.”

The US-Philippines Society is made up of more than 30 prominent Filipino and American private sector and community leaders.–Christine O. Avendaño