Malacañang welcomes new US envoy to PHL

Malacañang has welcomed new United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim after he arrived in Manila Thursday night. 

At a press briefing on Friday, Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag expressed optimism that Kim's Asian heritage will help improve the ties between the Philippines and the US. 

"We welcome the new Ambassador of the United States to the Philippines and sana po mas maganda ang pag-uusap at pakikipag-negosasyon natin, pakikipag-diplomasya, pakikipag-palitan natin ng diplomasya with the US dahil Asian ang ating counterpart from the US,"  she said. 

Kim arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 10 p.m. on Thursday. 

Thank you! I am excited to start my work here in the Philippines. @usembassymanila

— Amb-Designate Kim (@USAmbManila) December 1, 2016

On his first day as the US envoy to the Philippines, Kim met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.

Such a warm welcome from Secretary Yasay and the DFA!

— Amb-Designate Kim (@USAmbManila) December 2, 2016

Kim arrived in Manila following President Rodrigo Duterte's tirades against the US, which began when Philip Goldberg commented on the former mayor's controversial rape remark during the elections. 

Duterte's rants against the US intensified when its State Department as well as President Barack Obama commented against his drug on war because of possible human rights violations. — Trisha Macas/RSJ, GMA News