Marcos arrives in US to meet Trump

WASHINGTON, DC - President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. arrived in Washington, DC on Monday at 2:48 a.m. Manila time. 

The President is set to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House. 

He is also scheduled to visit the Pentagon for a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said Marcos and Trump are set to discuss defense and security. 

“Essentially it’s really the reaffirmation of all these agreements that we have with the United States specifically surrounding the Mutual Defense Treaty. So, it will be more on discussions on how we can continue to cooperate with the United States, our major ally.” Romualdez said. 

The West Philippine Sea situation is also expected to be discussed in the President’s meetings here. 

“At the same time, I think President Marcos would like to see how we can work with the United States and other countries that have the same mindset as far as the West Philippine Sea is concerned. So, it will be on those general subjects of discussion,” Romualdez added. 

Marcos will also be meeting with business leaders. 

“Generally he’ll be talking to semiconductor industry which is very important for us. One of our biggest industries that we’re having economic ties with the United States. I think the President of the Semiconductor Association will be meeting with the President," the ambassador said.

"And then we have other business leaders particularly those who have already invested in the Philippines or planning to expand their investments in the healthcare,” Romualdez said, adding that groups interested in developing the Luzon Economic Corridor will likewise attend the meeting. 

Marcos and Trump are also expected to tackle the 20% tariff on Philippine goods entering the US with the Philippines, hoping to arrive at a trade agreement beneficial to both countries. 

According to Romualdez, talks about the Free Trade Agreement would enter the scene after discussions on the steep 20% tariff. 

''After that, we're hoping that the Free Trade Agreement would probably be come into play conversations,'' the envoy said. 

Romualdez also told the media covering the President’s visit that the controversial immigration policy of President Trump is not on the agenda. He emphasized that at the end of the day, the laws of the US should be respected. 

''The bottomline is there is really not much of a room for discussion but to simply work in such a way that all Filipinos that are up for deportation will be deported to the Philippines and not to other countries,'' he said. 

There are currently 3,772 Filipinos identified by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement who are not detained but with “final orders of removal.” —with a report from Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA Integrated News