Palace welcomes appointment of new US envoy to RP

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang expects relations between the Philippines and the United States to further improve with the designation of Henry Thomas as the new American envoy to Manila.

Interviewed over government-run Radyo ng Bayan, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Thomas was the personal choice of U.S. President Barack Obama and his appointment should work to the advantage of the Philippines.

He also emphasized that President Obama has a close relationship with President Arroyo and that the arrival of Thomas should further enhance the long-standing relations between the two countries.

President Arroyo, according to Remonde, was the first Asian leader invited by the Obama administration to the White House and was designated by the US President as the spokesperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the recently concluded 1st U.S.-ASEAN Summit in Singapore.

“Considering the very warm personal accord between the two, and considering that the incoming ambassador is the personal choice and personal nominee of President Barack Obama, that could only mean one thing – that this will augur well for friendlier, for warmer and for better U.S.-Philippine relations,” he said.

Remonde also paid tribute to outgoing Ambassador Kristie Kenney, whom he described as one of the most popular American ambassadors to have ever served in the country. – Marvin Sy