Wednesday, November 05, 2008 Palace: Elections will not affect US-RP ties
STA. ROSA, Laguna -- Malacañang on Tuesday said the US elections will not affect the current state of Philippine-US relations even as the world hinges its hopes on the solution of the global financial crisis on the US presidential race.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the "deep reservoir of goodwill" between the two countries "will transcend political considerations" because of "very strong historical roots."
"Whether it's (Barack) Obama or (John) McCain, we will be maintaining the same kind of level of relationship with the US as a country," he said.
Dureza, in a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting here, said many Filipino-Americans, who are considered very important components in the American society, will vote in the US elections.
Americans, he said, will determine who is the better candidate.
Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said this year's polls generated the biggest interest and excitement worldwide because of the global financial crisis.
"Because of the health of America's economy and the soundness of its foreign policy inexorably affecting the rest of the world, the Philippines like many other countries, shares the American people's sense of anticipation and hope in finding the solutions to their economic problems through this election," Claudio said.
He added that the strategic importance of the Philippines in America's geopolitics will not be lost to the next US administration. "Whether it is Obama or McCain, we are confident of finding fresh opportunities of strengthening RP-US relations in the pursuit of our national interest."
The Social Weather Stations (SWS), in its September 24 to 27 survey, showed that 76 percent of Filipinos believe that whoever wins in the US elections will not matter for the Philippines. The survey showed that 13 percent prefer Obama and nine percent prefer McCain. (JMR/Sunnex)
