DFA: No US advice on Obama trip amid government shutdown

Washington has not notified the Philippines of any possible change in President Barack Obama’s scheduled trip to Manila next week amid the US government shutdown, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

Obama is expected to make his first ever visit to the Philippines on October 11 to 12 to meet President Benigno S. Aquino III and other top officials as part of a swing to Southeast Asia.

Aside from the Philippines, Obama is also scheduled to travel to Bali, Indonesia to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and to Brunei for the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations summit with Aquino and other leaders from ASEAN, Japan, China, and Australia, among others. He will also visit Malaysia.

The US shutdown of government agencies which was caused by failure to meet a deadline to pass a budget, however, sparked speculations that Obama may completely forego his Asian trips or limit his travel time in Asia to deal with the crisis.

“We have not received any advice from the US State Department on any change in Pres. Obama's planned visit to the Philippines,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

When sought for comment, US Embassy spokesman Kurt Hoyer said: “I would direct you to the White House for questions regarding the President's schedule.”

Philippine envoy to Washington Jose Cuisia Jr., in a radio interview Tuesday, however, said he is not discounting the possibility that Obama may put off foreign trips until the deadlock is resolved.

"Sana hindi (maapektuhan pero) hindi natin masiguro yan. Baka sabihin ng presidente, dapat narito siya sa US," Cuisia said in an interview on dzBB radio.

If his Manila trip will push through, Obama has been expected to discuss with Aquino and other officials a planned increased rotational presence of American troops in the Philippines - the terms of which are being negotiated by Philippine and US panels.

Obama and Philippine officials are also expected to touch on regional and international issues like the renewed tensions in the South China Sea, where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, China and Taiwan are locked in a years-long territorial rivalry. --KG, GMA News