U.S President Donald Trump said that he’s fine with the decision of the Philippine government to cancel the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
In an interview with the reporters at the Whitehouse, Trump highlighted his good relationship with President Rodrigo Duterte and the positive outcome of the VFA cancellation instead of criticizing it.
“If they would like to do that, that’s fine, we’ll save a lot of money. You know my views are different from other people. I view it as, ‘Thank you very much, we’ll save a lot of money,” Trump said.
The American President also narrated how the U.S helped the Philippines to defeat ISIS, claiming that they ‘single-handedly’ saved the Filipinos from the group.
“Three years ago, when ISIS was overrunning the Philippines, we came in and literally singlehandedly we’re able to save them,” he said.
“My relationship is a very good one, with their leader (President Rodrigo Duterte), let’s see what’s happens,” he said.
A few years ago, Trump considered the Philippines as a ‘most prime piece of real state from a military standpoint.”
The statement of Trump contradicted President Duterte’s claim that the American President, together with his officials wanted to save VFA.
“Ngayon, I’ll make it public. Because public official ako. Si Trump, pati yung others, are trying to save the Visiting Forces Agreement. Sabi ko, ayaw ko,” Duterte said a few days ago.
“One is that napakabastos ng Amerika. Sobrang bastos… Imagine demanding the release of De Lima under threat that we will not receive the aid at may kulatilya that all persons who had a hand in the detention of De lima will not be allowed to go to the United States. P**** i**, ano bang nasa Amerika?” he added.
Meanwhile, Malacanang responded to Trump’s statement, telling the American President ‘you’re welcome’.
“Then, he is welcome. If he said that, how can we be more popish than the pope?” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
“Maybe he (Trump) agrees with the position of the President (Duterte) that it is time that we stand on our own resources and defend our country from enemies of the state by ourselves and not rely on the help of other countries,” he added.