‘Pentagon chief’s visit shows Philippines in US radar’

MANILA, Philippines — The visit of United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the country this week is an indication that the Philippines is in the US radar screen, the Philippines’ top diplomat in Washington said yesterday.

In an interview on dzBB, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said Hegseth will meet with President Marcos and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. during his visit in Manila on March 28 to 29.

He said the visit is also an indication of the Philippines’ importance for the US and the defense alliance.

“It’s important that we are in the radar screen of US. We have a role to play in the defense strategy of the US and their other allies such as Japan and Australia,” Romualdez said.

Hegseth will be the first and highest-ranking official of the administration of US President Donald Trump to travel to the country.

“We are positioning ourselves to take advantage of this so that our Armed Forces will be modernized. As I have always said, please help us out economically,” he said.

“The economy needs to be strong so that we can get resources and buy equipment, arms, and anything else we might need on the field,” he added.

Romualdez said the talks during the meeting of Hegseth with Philippine officials will include increasing deterrence against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.

The Pentagon announced Hegseth will advance security objectives with Philippine leaders and meet with US and Philippine forces.

“Secretary Hegseth’s trip comes as the United States builds on unprecedented cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen regional security,” the Pentagon said.

The US exempted a “portion” of its military assistance to the Philippines from its foreign aid freeze.