Security issues likely discussed during US lawmakers’ call on Aquino—Palace

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino discussed various issues that likely included security matters with US lawmakers who called on him on Tuesday afternoon, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on Wednesday.

“The President said there were wide ranging discussions with the US congressmen,” Lacierda said in a teleohone interview.

Lacierda couldn’t say if the discussions included one on the South China Sea dispute with China but added it was likely that security matters were taken up.

“It’s safe to assume that security issues were discussed. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Oban were there,” Lacierda said.

Quoting a message from the US embassy, Lacierda said the US congressmen would meet with Philippine government officials, embassy officers and others “to learn about important bilateral and regional issues.”

The lawmakers include congressmen Dana Rohrabacher and Jim Costa of California, Ted Poe and Louis Boller Gohmert, Jr., from Texas; Russ Carnahan from Missouri, and Jeffrey Duncan from South Carolina.

Lacierda said one of the congressmen cited the shared sacrifice of Filipino and American soldiers during World War II.

There was also a discussion on the economic situation in the US and the US appreciation for the Aquino administration’s drive against corruption.