The relationship between the Philippines and the United States (US) is sure to get stronger under the President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s administration
Two ranking congressmen from Mindanao offered this take on the recent bilateral talks between Marcos and United States (US) President Joe Biden.
Pronouncements from Malacañang bared that the impromptu meeting, which took place during last week's 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City in the US, indicated that it stemmed from the two leaders' strong desire to touch base with each other.
Biden meet with few other heads of state on the sidelines of UNGA.
"It just means that President Biden has given more importance to the relationship of USA with the Philippines," Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel said.
Pimentel, a member of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) in the House of Representatives, said the US still recognizes the Philippines' strategic location in the Pacific, on top of actual relations that began hundreds of years ago.
"I believe that President Biden wants to strengthen more the partnership of US with Philippines considering that our country is a very strategic miltary area for the US in the Southeast Asia. Besides, our relationship with the US dates back to hundreds of years," he said.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers sees the meeting between the two leaders as Marcos’s way of delivering on his promise of improving ties with Washington.
As reference, Barbers, chairman of the House Committee of Dangerous Drugs, cited the relationship between the US and the Philippines during the previous administration, which had its ups and downs.
"It only proves that the relationship between the Philippines and US have become stronger," he said.
"Although we were able to maintain our treaties and bilateral ties with the US under the previous administration, under the Marcos government, it is seen to become even stronger," added Barbers.
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Earlier, another House leader in Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairman Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo said that Biden’s choosing to meet with Marcos out of just a handful of fellow leaders proves the former's high regard of the latter.