Palace confident of PH-US ties continuity under Trump 

Malacañang is confident that the Philippines and the United States will continue to have strong ties under Donald Trump’s new administration. 

“The Philippines and America have shared history, and we have this desire for peace in this region. I think the commitments will be followed through,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told reporters on Wednesday. 

Trump is set to return to the White House after four years after securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes against Vice President Kamala Harris. 

During his campaign, Trump emphasized his plans on handling illegal immigrants to the US, which includes closing the borders. 

Bersamin said the Philippine administration is not worried about the Trump administration on the maritime dispute in the West Philippines Sea where the US serves as an ally to the Philippines. 

“I don’t think we have to worry about that because there’s continuity in international relations,” Bersamin added. 

When asked if the new US government will have an ironclad relationship with the Philippines, the Executive Secretary said: “Well, the description of ironclad is in the way America reads the Mutual Defense Treaty, so we will leave it at that. If they say it’s ironclad, we will be glad to agree with them.” 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. already congratulated Trump earlier in the day. Bersamin said that the Philippine chief executive might make a phone call with the latter “tomorrow or in the coming days.”  —Vince Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News