Malacañang expressed optimism that the 2020 US presidential elections’ results would not make major changes in the bilateral ties between the Philippines and the United States.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque is confident that President Rodrigo Duterte could establish “equally warm personal relations” with Democrat Joe Biden if ever he becomes the new US president.
“You see the (U.S.) State Department ensures continuity as far as U.S. foreign policy is concerned. So we don’t expect any major changes in bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United States,” Roque said Wednesday in an interview over CNN Philippines.
“Of course, there is an issue of personal relations, but I think given time the President can establish equally warm personal relations with whoever wins this election even it’s not President Trump,” he added.
“And even if there is a new (U.S.) president, I am not saying that there will be, but in case there is a new president in the United States in the person of Senator Biden, I am confident that the President (Duterte) can also develop a close personal friendship with Mr. Biden. May the best man win as of now,” Roque added.
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Election results no major effects in US-Philippines ties – Palace
Duterte is known to have a “personal” relationship with incumbent US President Donald Trump, believing the latter should stay in power for another four years.
President Duterte urged U.S. citizens with Filipino links to vote for Trump as early as February.
Asked for his personal forecast on who will be the next US President, Roque said: “Even U.S. media sources, CNN, Fox are very cautious in making their forecast now. So I think I will follow their lead and really just allow the results to come in.”
Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Wednesday that around 350,000 overstaying Filipinos in the United States face deportation.
“There are about 350,000 Filipino who have been overstaying here in the United States [who] are on hold,” Romualdez said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel. “They’re in court right now, deportation court.”