After a rocky relationship with his predecessor, President Duterte is likely to get along well with US President Donald Trump since they have commonalities such as love for country, according to a Palace official.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar voiced high hopes for a better Philippine-US relations following the inauguration of Trump as the 45th US president over the weekend.
“Just like President Duterte, US President Trump subscribes to nationalism, non-interference, combatting drugs, and people centered programs. It looks like both leaders will really get along,” Andanar said in a Facebook post.
Andanar and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperson Jr. were among the millions who attended the Trump inaugural in Washington D.C. last weekend. Witnessing the historic turnover of power was an “unforgettable experience” for the Palace official.
In his inaugural address, Trump has pledged to implement an “America First” foreign and security policy in his new administration. The US leader sought to end the “carnage” by Washington that left citizens to suffer from poverty and crime over the years. He also plans to “reinforce old alliances and form new ones” while seeking to unite the world against radical Islamic terrorism.
Andanar has welcomed Trump’s “America First” pronouncement, saying it was similar to Duterte’s thrust to prioritize the interest of the Filipino people.
He said Duterte and Trump also share the outlook on having an independent foreign policy. “The President of the Philippines also subscribes to the fact that it is important that we serve the interests of the Filipinos first,” Andanar said in an interview with State-owned People’s Television network.
Andanar also lauded Trump’s proposal “not impose the US lifestyle on other countries” during his short inaugural address. He said Trump, a believer of protectionism, has encouraged others nations to serve the interests of their own people.
“But then what they will do is prove to the world that they have a good way of running their government for the rest of the world to follow. Hindi sila makikialam sa polisiya o sa mga ginagawa ng ibang bansa. They will let them be, mahalaga iyon,” he said. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)