Duterte, Trump expected to talk over the phone soon — Yasay

Expect a phone conversation between President Rodrigo Duterte and United States President-elect Donald Trump in the coming days, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said on Thursday.

In an interview on GMA News TV’s "News To Go" Yasay said Duterte already sent a congratulatory message to Trump for winning the US elections against former Secretary of State and Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton.

“We would be expecting within the next few days na magkakaroon sila [Duterte at Trump] ng telephone conversation,” he said.

In his congratulatory message, Duterte said he hopes to improve the country's ties with its former colonial ruler.  

The President also believes that he will have a good relationship with Trump, admitting they have the same temperament.

PHL-US ties

But does Yasay think that there will be an improved between the Philippines and the US with Trump as Duterte’s counterpart?

“Sa palagay ko naman, regardless of who became president, especially now with Trump, ang relasyon natin with the United States will not only remain strong and firm, but will only grow stronger,” he said.

However, he pointed out that the country will still push for an independent foreign policy.

"The concerns, the issues we have raised transcend personalities. Hindi naman tayo nagkaroon ng kasamaan ng loob with the United States because of the personalities involved," he said.

"We are really harping on 'yong fundamental changes na karapat-dapat so we can be able to pursue our independent foreign policy," Yasay added, stressing that the Philippines' dependence on the US prevented its growth.

He also stressed that the US will remain as the Philippines' sole defense partner because of the Mutual Defense Treaty, as the Duterte administration forges closer economic and trade ties with China and Russia.

"We are not undertaking military alliance with anyone else," Yasay said. — VVP, GMA News