DEPUTY Speaker and Batangas City Representative Ralph Recto on Monday commended Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Philippine Ambassador to the United States (US) Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez for the successful official trip in the United States of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.

“The trip of the President to the US was an unqualified success,” Recto said. “It helped that he had as wingmen Ambassador Babes Romualdez, a reliable DC hand who can speed-dial those who move the levers of power, and Speaker Romualdez, whose excellent private sector contacts hark back to his banking days.”

In speaking to America, Recto said, “the President was on the message: that economic prosperity is the foundation of national security.”

“He was able to put out that narrative despite the US government’s spin to paint the rebooted US-PH relations in one-dimensional terms – as an alliance against China,” Recto said.

“He was not mouthing Washington’s talking points but clearly conveyed our national interest. The President was steadfast in saying that the Philippines will not be a launching pad against any aggression in the region and it remains a friend to all and enemy to none. Trade, not aid, was the tenor of his many speeches. Goods to be bought from us, not guns given,” he said.

“With the number of Filipinos working and residing in the US, and the huge trade between our two nations, anytime a Philippine president visits the US, our country’s ‘19th region,’ is time well spent,” Recto added.

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Ryan Ponce Pacpaco