Duterte congratulates ‘buddy’ Trump

DAVAO CITY , Philippines —   Former president Rodrigo Duterte has congratulated Republican Donald Trump for winning a second presidential term in the US elections.

“I hope your new mandate will bring renewed optimism and strength to the American people during these challenging times,” Duterte said.

Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

Duterte said he looks forward to the success of the Trump administration and a shared aspiration for greater peace.

At the November 2017 ASEAN Summit, then-president Trump expressed his fondness with Duterte.

“Tell Rodrigo I like him very much,” Trump said, according to former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Duterte expressed support for the convicted criminal in July when Trump was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate.

Romualdez congratulates Trump

Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday expressed confidence that Trump’s victory would lead to deeper US-Philippine ties.

Romualdez congratulated the president-elect for his victory against Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris in the recently concluded US elections.

“On behalf of the House of Representatives and the Filipino people, I extend warm congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his recent victory. The American people have spoken and we look forward to strengthening our enduring relationship with our oldest ally,” Romualdez said.

Trump’s victory brings renewed opportunities to deepen ties particularly in economic partnership that can open the doors for trade and investment, benefiting countless Filipinos, he noted.

“We are optimistic that under President Trump, maritime security and regional stability will remain priorities, especially in the West Philippine Sea,” Romualdez said.

“The Philippines values a strong defense partnership with the US supporting peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific,” he said.

He noted that the US “greatly assisted in our fight against extremism.”

“As we enter this new chapter, the Philippines remains committed to a strategic alliance with the US, founded on mutual respect, shared interests and common goals of security and progress,” Romualdez said.

Senate President Francis Escudero, Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, former Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sen. Loren Legarda and CIBAC party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva also congratulated Trump.

Zubiri, who identifies as a Republican, said his “Catholic heart is full of joy.”

“When the other camp uses abortion as a key campaign slogan and heavily using a woke agenda, then the silent majority will awaken and say enough is enough,” he claimed.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said he is looking forward to working with counterparts “in bringing our alliance to even greater heights under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump.”

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said he is optimistic about stronger Philippine-US defense relations under Trump.

“This commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty and related agreements is stronger than ever,”  Romualdez said.

“I’ve spoken to officials from the Trump administration and they assured me that these policies would likely stay consistent, possibly even improving under the next term,” he told NewsWatch.

Makabayan slams Trump

The progressive Makabayan coalition is concerned about Trump’s return to the White House, citing his administration’s past policies as “harmful to the Philippines.”

“Given Trump’s record and policies, which are rooted in anti-poor, anti-migrant and overtly fascist, sexist and racist ideologies, we see that US-Philippine relations will be even more skewed against the Philippines in terms of trade agreements, military pacts and economic arrangements,” Makabayan coalition president Liza Maza said yesterday.

Maza criticized Trump’s previous term as one that favored economic protectionism and military interventions that often put countries like the Philippines at a disadvantage.

“We should push forward an independent foreign policy that prioritizes the interests and security of the Filipino people,” she said, calling for a stance that rejects “foreign influence in favor of national sovereignty.”

Maza encouraged unity among global progressive movements to counter policies that could lead to increased inequality and conflict.

Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel expressed concern over the “crude remarks” of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa that he can fly to the US again after Trump’s victory.

“Colonial and mercenary mentality much? Senator Bato’s show of desperation is shameful for harping Uncle Sam to escape from his accountability to the victims of extrajudicial killings,” Manuel said. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Mark Ernest Villeza, Pia Lee-Brago, Marc Jayson Cayabyab