Palace welcomes new US envoy

Malacañang is pleased with the appointment of Sung Kim as US ambassador to the Philippines, saying it is a sign that the long-time ally “wants to be on a better cultural footing” with the country.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the move is “very significant” for the US to assign an Asian here, noting it would improve relationships.

“I’m sure it’s some form of a signal that they want to be on a better cultural footing and understanding with Asia. That seems to be right now one of the most obvious, significant reasons why they chose a Korean. Maybe they want to understand us better and be able to relate on better cultural terms,” Abella said in an interview over dzRB yesterday.

President Duterte and US Secretary of State John Kerry talked about US-Philippine relations during the official’s visit here recently.

“Their talks came out fine and we were observers to that. What is important now is to make sure that our terms of engagement will be more culturally sensitive,” Abella said in Filipino.

Duterte earlier said he wanted an independent foreign policy, one that is not totally dependent on America.

He has cussed at western leaders, including US President Barack Obama, for criticizing the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, which has so far seen more than 3,200 people killed.

The European Union, the United Nations, the US and local and international human rights organizations labeled the deaths as extrajudicial killings.

Kerry had expressed confidence about the future of the US and Philippine relationship “notwithstanding a difference here and there about one thing or another.”

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