US Senator Lugar in Manila again, calls on Aquino

MANILA – Visiting U.S. Senator Richard Lugar called on President Benigno Aquino III in Malacanang and cited him for strong stance against corruption.
“Your administration’s consistent anti-corruption efforts are dramatically changing the perception of the Philippines in people’s minds,” the most senior Republican in the U.S. Senate said.

“I am here to personally hear more about the positive developments in your country,” he added.
In response, President Aquino said his administration’s good governance agenda has translated into real gains for Filipinos.
“By next year, we will be able to solve the problem of classroom shortage in our public schools. We now have more people covered by our national health insurance, and the increase in our rice production will hopefully enable us to be a rice exporter soon,” he said.
Aquino also thanked Lugar, from Indiana, for the latter’s political analysis of the 1986 snap elections, which led President Ronald Reagan to eventually withdraw U.S. support for the Marcos administration.
“On behalf of the Filipino people, thank you for your crucial role in the restoration of democracy in our country,” the President said.
Lugar, for his part, said his visit to the Philippines in 1986 contributed immensely to his continuing education in foreign relations.
“It made such an impression on me that I had photographs of that time placed on a wall of my office at the Capitol,” he said.
Citing the strong commitment of the U.S. in ensuring the safe passage of ships and unimpeded trade through the seas of Asia-Pacific, Senator Lugar pledged to continue working for a strong PHL-U.S. alliance.
“I plan to speak with various audiences back home on why the U.S. should continue to support steadfast allies like the Philippines, and how we could be more helpful to you as a partner,” he said.