Aquino receives chief of US Pacific Command

US ADMIRAL IN MALACANANG.President Benigno Simeon Aquino III welcomes United States Pacific Command Commander Admiral Robert F. Willard in a courtesy call on Wednesday at the Yellow Room, Premier Guest House, Malacanang. The US Pacific Command’s area of jurisdiction covers over fifty percent of the world’s surface area.

Aug 20, 2010

MANILA – President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed Admiral Robert Willard, Commander of the US Pacific Command, during a courtesy call last Wednesday at the Premiere Guest House in Malacañang. Admiral Willard is accompanied by his Executive Assistant Capt. Mike Smith and US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas. Also present were Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Ricardo David and Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino. Earlier, Willard also visited the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Willard has already conducted several visits in the country as part of the US-Philippines security cooperation and partnership particularly in combating terrorism. Aquino is set to visit the United States next month to address the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, witness the signing of the $434 million grant of the Millennium Challenge Corporation with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and possibly a one-on-one meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington.