PH-US defense ties momentum to continue under Trump - Teodoro

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Philippines and the United States will continue the momentum of defense partnership under the Trump administration, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro said on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Teodoro also dismissed concerns that military funding to the Philippines will be affected by Washington’s of foreign aid.

“Insofar as defense is concerned, I'm not worried at all,” said Teodoro.

He said that based on his meeting with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, the partnership will be enhanced.

“So the commitment that our bilateral and multilateral activities will continue or enhance support, the initial support was given. We need to talk specifically about support. However, I will have a conversation with (Defense) Secretary (Pete) Hegseth in the coming days. So we'll see. But I'm very optimistic that the trajectory will not change,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro said that Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez has assured him that the $500-million foreign military funding promised to Manila by the Biden administration for the Official Security Assistance Roadmap will proceed.

China monster ship: ‘Dinadaan nila sa laki’

The defense chief slammed the continuing presence of China’s large coast guard ship also known as the monster off Zambales.

“Eh dinadaan nila sa laki eh.So, I mean, they're just showing to the world what kind of people they are from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” he said.

Teodoro said China should put a stop in its provocations in the West Philippine Sea.

“If China claims to be what it is, a responsible, peace loving, law abiding, purported leader of the world that wants to shape the world, it should get out of our territory, denuclearize its arsenal, remove its ballistic capabilities, and stop their illegal and aggressive activities. I mean, that's the responsibility of any peace loving, freedom loving state,” he said.