The US said it looks forward to working with the new Philippine president on crucial human rights and regional issues. US State Department spokesman Ned Price added last Monday’s elections went off without a hitch, according to international standards.
Once the incoming president was officially proclaimed, Price informed the Washington media that America would seek to enhance the long-standing friendship between the United States and the Philippines.
“We’re monitoring the election results and we look forward to renewing our special partnership and to working with the next administration on key human rights and regional priorities,” Price said Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
When asked if the US is concerned about Ferdinand Marcos Jr. becoming the next president, Price said: “What I can say from a technical standpoint is that we understand the casting and counting of votes to have been conducted in line with international standards and without significant incident.”
“The counting is still underway. It is not for us to declare a winner. We’ll wait for the Philippines election authorities to do that. We look forward to working with the president-elect on the shared values and the shared interests that have united our countries across generations,” Price said.
US to work with new Philippine president – spokesman
Marcos Jr., 64, the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was ousted in a People Power revolt in 1986, is leading the presidential race with a landslide margin over his closest challenger, Vice President Leni Robredo.
Price stated that the United States’ relations with its primary Asian ally have not changed. “It is an enduring alliance that is rooted in a long and deeply interwoven history that shares democratic values and interests and strong people-to-people ties between our countries as friends, as partners, as allies,” he said.
Price added the US would continue to work closely with the Philippines “to advance a free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.”
“We’ll also continue, as I said before, to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law which is fundamental to US relations with the Philippines and in other bilateral contexts as well,” Price said.
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