VP bets say Donald Trump not good for US-Philippines ties

MANILA, Philippines (First published April 10, 2016 11:10 p.m.) — Vice presidential candidates Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Francis "Chiz" Escudero said Sunday that Republican presidential bet Donald Trump will not be the best American leader to nourish the relationship with the Philippines.

At the Commission on Elections-initiated vice presidential debate, Marcos and Escudero fell short of naming an American candidate whose policies are likely to benefit the Philippines. The two agreed, however, that the Philippines's longstanding security alliance with the US will not gain from a Trump administration.

"Maganda mang pakinggan, nakakaaliw lang ang maaanghang na salita, hindi ko po nakikita na magiging maganda para sa relasyon ng ating bansa ang panguluhan ni Ginoong Trump," Escudero said, answering a question raised by CNN anchor Kristie Lu Stout via satellite feed.

While failing to say whether he favors Hillary Clinton, Marcos said Trump seemed to be geared for war—likely referring to the candidate's outsider's views on foreign policy.

"I would be hesitant to say Donald Trump because he seems rather belligerent. And I have no interest in waging war against any country," Marcos said.

Trump still has a narrow path to clinching the Republican nomination by the end of the primaries on June 7, but he has little room for error. He would need to win nearly 60 percent of all the remaining delegates to clinch the nomination before the convention. So far, he is winning about 45 percent.

Equality in bilateral ties stressed

The two vice presidential candidates, meanwhile, are keen on seeing a more equal relationship between Washington and Manila.

"I would like the United States, our longtime allies, that we in the Philippines are working toward our own national interest. Not for Washington, not for Beijing, but for the Philippines and that must be the guiding principle behind all that we do," Marcos said.

Marcos, whom Stout asked for his message to the next American president, said he is open to the Philippines reviving negotiations with China, with which it has been embroiled in a maritime dispute over areas of the South China Sea.

Washington officials have lauded the Philippines's resort to arbitration in seeking for a solution to the sea row, but Marcos has been insisting on bilateral talks with the country's powerful neighbor.

Escudero, meanwhile, criticized what he called as America's big brother approach toward the Philippines, its only former Asian colony, despite a supposedly equal bilateral partnership.

"Ang problema, ang tingin parin ng mga Amerikano sa'tin little brown brother parin tila nila tayo. Ang probema, masyadong minamaliit ang ating bansa kaugnay sa relasyong ito. Anumang relasyon at ugnayan sa pagitan ng Amerika at ng ating bansa, dapat pantay, dapat on equal footing," Escudero said.

On Saturday, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said that Washington will send about $40 million in military assistance to the Philippines to strengthen intelligence sharing, surveillance, and naval patrols. The aid comes amid increasing tensions with China over undeveloped islands and shoals in the region. — with a report from the Associated Press