PH, US relations won’t be affected if Duterte doesn’t visit Washington

The country’s robust relations with the United States will remain intact even if President Duterte declines an invitation to visit Washington, Malacañang said Sunday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said although the President has yet to make a final decision on the proposed US trip, the bilateral relations could still be promoted with the help of the country’s ambassador.

“It doesn’t mean na porket hindi ka pumunta roon ay may masamang mangyayari sa relasyon (It does not mean that just because you can’t go there, something bad will happen to the relations),” he said in a radio interview.

“Hindi naman kailangan pumunta sa isang bansa para magkaroon ng diplomatic relations precisely kaya tayo may mga ambassador (You don’t have to go to another country just to have diplomatic relations. That’s precisely why we have ambassadors),” he added.

Asked if the President was inclined to visit the US, Panelo acknowledged that the Duterte was known to be averse to taking long-haul flights.

“Ang pagkakaalam natin kay Presidente kasi ayaw niya sa malamig, ayaw niya sa mahahabang biyahe. Hindi siya kumportable doon (What I know of the President, he does not like cold climates, long haul flights. He is not comfortable with that),” he said.

The President has been invited to visit the US but he has yet to accept the invitation. Duterte, annoyed by foreign inference in local affairs, previously said he would never go to “lousy” America during his term.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. recently said they have conveyed to the President the US invitation. He added that they would have to wait for the end of the May elections before making any arrangements if Duterte agrees to visit the US.

He made the remarks after US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo’s recent visit to the Manila that included a meeting with President Duterte.

Malacañang recently said the President was optimistic about the prospects of “stronger and more meaningful” ties with the US particularly on defense and security, peace and order, regional stability, as well as the rule of law in the conduct of activities in the West Philippine Sea to prevent escalation of tensions.