Philippines can work with any American president — Palace

Malacañang on Thursday said it would wait for the result of the US presidential election even as it assured the Philippines’ readiness to work with any American leader.

It is not immediately clear who between incumbent President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden would win the White House as counting is still underway in crucial battleground states.

Trump’s camp had also mounted legal challenges as the Republican president trailed behind Biden in the battle for 270 electoral college votes.

“Kahit sino pong manalo, wala pong problema ang ating Presidente. We can work with any president because we have had a long history of very close friendship with the United States,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said when asked if a Biden presidency would be good or bad for the Philippines.

“Naghihintay lang tayo ng opisyal na result,” he added.

Roque earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte, who considered Trump a friend, would be able to establish “equally warm personal relations” with Biden should the Democratic candidate win the election.

The US is one of the Philippines’ major trading partners and a mutual defense treaty ally. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News