Malacañang assures Obama administration of RP's support

Malacañang yesterday assured the incoming Obama administration of the Philippines’ continued support and expressed optimism that the country’s relations with the United States would continue to be fruitful.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez issued the statement as President-elect Barack Obama is set to be sworn into office on Tuesday as the US’ first black president.

“Our message to President-elect Obama is that we are very supportive of his incoming administration,” Golez told the government-owned dzRB.

 “At this critical time, (the US) needs a determined leader who can face the problems, like the economic crisis and the problem in Israel and Gaza,” he said, referring to the bloody fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

He said Obama is also confronted with trade issues with other countries.

“These are tough times that President-elect Barack Obama has to face,” Golez said.

He said the Palace is heartened by Obama’s previous avowals that he would foster stronger ties with the Philippines.

Philippine Consul-General in San Francisco and Presidential Assistant for Foreign and State Visits Marciano Paynor Jr. earlier told The STAR that President Arroyo would not attend Obama’s inauguration simply because no heads of state are normally invited to such ceremonies.

Obama last June wrote a letter to Mrs. Arroyo after the two failed to meet in the US during the latter’s visit there, assuring her of strong relations between the two countries.

He acknowledged “the long history and alliance that has bound our two countries together for decades.”

He recalled the two countries fought together against fascism in the Second World War and stood up successfully against a common adversary during the Cold War, and today find themselves shoulder to shoulder in the common struggle against terrorism and extremism.

Mrs. Arroyo said Obama enumerated several issues that are of mutual concern to the two countries such as climate change, food security, poverty reduction, the future of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, human rights in Burma and defense reform.

She noted that it was Veterans’ Day and recalled that Obama had expressed his support to the Filipino Veterans’ Equity Bill. – Paolo Romero