DND chief: Philippines-US exercises still important

MANILA, Philippines - Despite President Duterte’s strong stance against the United States, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana tackled the importance of the joint exercises between the Philippines and the US during a Cabinet meeting in Malacañang last Thursday.

“It was good,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said of the meeting that started late afternoon and ended at past 8 p.m.    

Andanar pointed out though that all matters discussed by the concerned Cabinet members were just “recommendations.”

Lorenzana cited in his report a “long list of benefits” of the US-Philippine joint exercises, Andanar said, without elaborating.

The defense department made the presentation after Duterte openly attacked the US, including President Barack Obama, for hitting his bloody war against illegal drugs.

He also described Americans as “monkeys” for stopping the sale of 26,000 rifles to the Philippine National Police.

Duterte announced in Vietnam while on a visit in September that the joint military exercises set on Oct. 4 to 12 would be the last under his term. 

In China last month, the President said he would “separate” from the US to pursue an independent foreign policy while pivoting toward China and Russia.

Later Duterte said he would establish “new alliances for trade and commerce” with Russia and China, but would maintain security arrangements with the US.

During his visit in Japan last week, Duterte said he wanted the US troops out of the Philippines in the next two years and was ready to abrogate even the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the two countries.

The US currently maintains a small presence of special forces in Mindanao. 

The President also has yet to appoint a new Philippine ambassador to the US but named The Philippine STAR columnist Babe Romualdez as special envoy to “reboot” ties with Washington.

Despite his tirades, US officials said they would like to maintain good relations with the Philippines and that nothing had been formally communicated so far that would make Duterte’s comments government policy.