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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider US-PH ties remains 'steadfast' whoever wins for presidency — envoy

US-PH ties remains 'steadfast' whoever wins for presidency — envoy

Published Nov 6, 2024 04:00 am

Defense and civilian relationship between the Philippines and the United States would remain "steadfast" regardless of whoever wins in the presidential race between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson made the assurance on Wednesday, Nov. 6, as the world, including the Philippines where a watch party was held, monitored how the result of the tight race would unfold.

"In our democratic system it's the Congress that holds the first strings in terms of financing our operations overseas, where they’re civilian or military," Carlson said in an interview.

And since there are "as many Republicans as Democrats who are enthusiastically supporting the US-Philippines alliance," Carlson was positive about the future relations of both countries.

"I am extremely confident that the US-Philippines relations will remain as steadfast friends, as ironclad allies, as well as partners in prosperity no matter who wins the elections in the United States," she said.

"My counterpart and good friends, [Philippine Ambassador in the US] Babe Romualdez has been in the United States for eight years now. So when he says he’s confident that there’s a bipartisan support, I have a lot of confidence in Amb. Romualdez. And I echo those sentiments," she added.

At a hotel in Makati City, there was "a festival of democracy," as Carlson put it, when the US Embassy in Manila held a presidential watch party.

US and Philippine flags; blue, white and red curtains; as well as blue, white and red balloons were everywhere. Four television screens were also set up in the watch party as various news networks showed the return of ballots from across the US against the backdrop of mostly American citizens in Manila waiting in anticipation.

Papal Nuncio Charles Brown, the dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the Philippines, was among those who attended the gathering.

Carlson believed that both the US and the Philippines, as friends, partners and allies, must hold each other accountable to live up to our highest democratic ideals, including during the elections.

But she said the election and the democratic process do not end on election day.

"As the playwright Tom Stoppard famously said, “It’s not the voting that’s democracy; it’s the counting,'" Carlson said.

Related Tags

Donald Trump MaryKay Carlson Kamala Harris presidential race
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