US State secretary cancels Manila trip due to storm 'Santi'

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has suspended a scheduled trip to the Philippines due to the threat posed by tropical storm "Santi" (international name: Nari)

Forecasters say the storm could strike the northern Philippines as a typhoon as early as Friday, bringing strong winds and heavy rains.

Kerry had planned to meet with Philippine officials in Manila on Friday and Saturday. It was to be the last stop in a Southeast Asia tour that includes Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia.

During much of Kerry's trip he has been filling in for President Barack Obama, who canceled a planned Asia tour because of the government shutdown gripping Washington.

In a statement, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Kerry committed to President Benigno Aquino III that he would visit Manila before the year ends. -with Louis Bacani, philstar.com