President Donald Trump stands with other World leaders before a Board of Peace meeting at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
There is still no decision yet from Manila for it to join the United States-led Board of Peace, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday, March 6.
"Ang pagkakaalam ko po pinag-aaralan pa ng Pilipinas 'yung imbitasyon na 'yan (As far as I know, that invitation is still under review)," DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona said in a press briefing.
On February 5, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel "Babes" Romualdez disclosed that US President Donald Trump offered President Marcos for the country to join the Peace Board through a personal letter from the White House.
Trump's Board of Peace, which he launched late January, currently has at least 26 founding member states. It was initially aimed at contributing to peace efforts in the Middle East following the Israel-Gaza conflict, which spiraled into a regional tension, but he also raised the idea of doing "pretty much whatever we want to do" in the future.
The board's founding members were required to provide $1 billion each for its funding.
Romualdez said the Philippines was only open to providing non-monetary contributions, such as human resources.