BANTAY PILIPINAS

May 21, 2010

US Envoy Meets Aquino , Vows To Cooperate with new RP leader

Los Angeles- The United States has virtually acknowledged Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino as the country’s new President after its top envoy to Manila met with the presidential frontrunner yesterday.

During the meeting, US Ambassador Harry Thomas conveyed to Aquino Washington’s satisfaction over the generally smooth conduct of the Philippines’ first-ever automated polls last May 10 where the Liberal Party candidate emerged as the apparent winner in the presidential race.

“At the meeting with Senator Aquino, Ambassador Harry Thomas congratulated the Filipino people regarding the May 10 elections, (and) said the US looks forward to working with the new administration to deepen bilateral friendship and partnership and advance common goals for Southeast Asia and the world,” US Embassy spokesman Rebecca Thompson told the Tribune.

Thomas said the US government “respects the political process and will wait for the formal proclamation of election results by Congress.” Aquino was joined by his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, at the meeting at his residence on Times Street in Quezon City.

US- RP Relations

The US is the Philippines’ major defense, security, and economic ally.

Washington is also a major aid donor to impoverished Muslim areas of Mindanao, and US special forces based on the island provide training and intelligence to Philippine troops fighting Islamist militants.

The United States is also home to about 1.7 million Filipino immigrants, making them the second-largest immigrant group in the United States after Mexicans.

Thomas further said the US valued its long-standing relation with its ally and friend. With more than five million Filipinos in the United States, Aquino said the relations between the US-and the Philippines will be better.