US looking forward to ‘strong and productive’ relationship with new Philippine president — diplomat

The United States is looking forward to having a “strong” and “productive” relationship with the new Philippine president regardless who wins in the national elections in May, Washington’s senior diplomat to Manila said Thursday.

Embassy Charges d’Affaires Heather Variava stressed that the relationship between the Philippines and the US is deeply rooted in shared values and its strong alliance and that it will not change whoever becomes president.

“We very much support the Philippine democratic process and look forward to working whichever candidate is elected by the people of the Philippines,” Variava told journalists at a virtual roundtable.

“Regardless who is elected in May we look forward to having a strong and productive relationship with the new president and we look forward to continuing that strong partnership and supporting the Philippines’ rights and sovereignty in the region.”

During a recent interview, presidential aspirant and namesake of the late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was reported to have said that he will shelve the arbitral ruling won by the Philippines against China to address the South China Sea disputes.

The same 2016 landmark arbitration ruling was supported and affirmed by Washington in a detailed study released last week by the State Department, concluding China’s assertions in the South China Sea as “unlawful.”

In July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands delivered a sweeping victory to the Philippines on the case it filed against China in 2013 and declared China's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea as illegal.

China does not recognize the ruling and insists indisputable historic rights over nearly the entire waters, which is dotted by clusters of islands, cays, shoals and reefs with rich fishing areas and natural oil and gas.

The US and other foreign governments consider elections or commenting on specific candidates as an internal domestic matter, but Variava said the US remains committed to upholding its alliance with the Philippines and the rule of law despite discussions by a new President with other countries in attempting to resolve the territorial disputes.

“Those discussions will not weaken a longstanding alliance between the United States and the Philippines which is proven time and again to be a bedrock of stability and prosperity in this region,” she said when asked about Marcos Jr.'s statement.

US observers

Variava, meanwhile, said the embassy is coordinating with the Commission on Elections on the sending of American election observers for the May 9, 2022 national polls for  President and Vice President - and legislative branches of the government, including national, provincial, and local, except for the barangay officials.

“We are already in discussions with Comelec about being part of any election process and observation program that Comelec hosts. We may indeed see observers from the United States joining as well,” she said.

The embassy, Variava added, has received a number of inquiries from some of the leading US organizations about coming to observe the Philippine elections. — RSJ, GMA News