US gov't to continue focusing on PHL, US shared areas of interest, says US embassy info officer

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 13): US gov't to continue focusing on PHL, US shared areas of interest, says US embassy info officer

The United States government will continue to focus on its broad relationship with the Philippines in many areas of interest, the information officer of the US Embassy in Manila said Tuesday.

The American government will work together with the Philippine government in areas of mutual interest, such as disaster preparedness and counter-terrorism, and for the improvement of the Filipino people’s lives while upholding the democratic values shared by both sovereign states, Molly Koscina said in an interview with media participants in the 7th US Embassy Seminar for Regional Media.

According to her, the Philippines’ and the US’ relationship has been the cornerstone of stability for more than 70 years, and is an “important relationship in the Asia Pacific”.

"It is built on shared sacrifice for democracy, human rights and built on strong people ties," she added.

When asked how many US troops are in Mindanao, Koscina said she will refer the question to the US defense department.

In a speech on Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants US forces to pull out of Mindanao as he pushes for an independent foreign policy.

"Yung mga (Those) special forces, they have to go. They have to go. In Mindanao, maraming mga puti doon (there are many whites there). They have to go," he said during the oath-taking of 43 new appointees in Malacañang.

”I do not want a rift with America, but they have to go. The Americans, they (Abu Sayyaf bandits) will really kill them. They will get ransom and they will kill (them),” he said.

President Duterte also mentioned the Bud Dajo incident, a “counter-insurgency action fought by the United States against the Moro”, where hundreds of Muslims were killed. With many still remembering such historical injustices, he said, many Mindanaoans are still angry when they see Americans in Mindanao.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=922488