House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday, May 1 said the House of Representatives is fully committed to support President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.'s initiative to push for the preservation of peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (3rd left) gives President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos a warm welcome during their arrival Sunday afternoon (US time) at Joint Base Andrews military faciliity in Maryland for the President's official visit to the United States. [Photo: O/S Rep. Martin Romualdez]
According to Romualdez, this would be one of the key discussion points in his upcoming meeting with US President Joe Biden.
“The House of Representatives stands solidly behind President Marcos in his effort to further bolster the long-standing relationship between the Philippines and the United States with the end in view of ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Romualdez.
The House leader is part of the Philippine contingent that welcomed President Marcos on his arrival to the United States at Joint Base Andrews airport in Maryland. He flew to the US in mid-April to lay the groundwork for Marcos’ visit by meeting with key US lawmakers to discuss further strengthening the security alliance and economic partnership between the two countries.
In an interview with members of the Philippine media during his flight to the US, President Marcos said that in calling for the “evolution” of Philippine-US relations he seeks to clarify the role the US intends to play amid the escalating tension in the Indo-Pacific region.
The President added that in his meeting with Biden, he will explain that the principal interest of the Philippines is to preserve regional peace.
“Geopolitical tensions and apprehensions of possible hostilities in the region will have an adverse effect on our aspirations for sustained economic growth and prosperity,” Romualdez said.
“It is to everyone’s benefit to ensure that conflicts are resolved through diplomatic and peaceful means,” he added.
Recently, China has been flexing its military might in the region and even expressed alarm over the Philippine government’s grant of US access to four additional military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
But the Presidentassured Beijing that the additional EDCA sites do not constitute a threat to China, which has a territorial dispute with the Philippines and other countries in the region over maritime claims especially in the West Philippine Sea.
“We work for peace. We will not encourage any provocative action by any country that will involve the Philippines by any other country. We will not allow that to happen. We will not allow the Philippines to be used as a staging post for any kind of military action,” Marcos said during the interview.
The Chief Executive also disclosed the Philippines has taken the first steps to establish a high-level communication line with China to prevent a repetition of incidents, such as the recent near collision between coast guard vessels of the Philippines and China in Ayungin Shoal.
“We hope that such high-level communication lines can be established the soonest possible time as it would go a long way to avoid any unfortunate incidents in the West Philippine Sea,” Romualdez said.
“Malacanang’s timely action signifies our sincerity to resolve any dispute peacefully, consistent with the President’s foreign policy of being a friend to all and enemy to none,” he also stressed.