Duterte ”not necessarily campaigning” for Trump: Panelo

February 17, 2020

Malacanang on Monday clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte is not campaigning for US President Donald Trump when he said the leader “deserved to be re-elected”.

“He (Duterte) is expressing sentiment about it not necessarily campaigning… he said given the character of the man when it comes to national interest, issues, he stands to it, he is a man of principle,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.

Panelo said Duterte told him that Trump will do the same when it comes to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) if he is the president of the Philippines.

“He (Trump) is a good president according to him and deserved to be re-elected because of judicious remarks on termination of VFA,” he said.

Trump is seeking another four-year term in the November 2020 presidential election.

In a news conference at the White House last February 12, Trump said he would not mind the abrogation VFA because it will “save” them lot of money.

He also expressed desire to bring US military forces home from decades-long deployments abroad and has strong-armed some allies into paying more for the right to US defense.

Trump said the US helped the Philippines in fighting the Islamic State militants during the Marawi siege in 2017.

In a statement last Saturday, Panelo thanked the US government for their support for the country but also reminded them that Filipino soldiers helped them during World War II.

“The time to strengthen our defense capabilities has come. Reliance on another country to defend our motherland from whoever desires to threaten our territorial integrity as well as to assault our sovereignty will only further weaken and stagnate our already limited resources,” he said.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said last week the US government received the notice of termination of the VFA which will take effect after 180 days. Ella Dionisio/DMS