President’s trip to US shows Philippines has ‘powerful friends’: expert

Two Fast Attack Interdiction Craft platforms of the Philippine Navy are christened during a ceremony at Naval Station Pascual Ledesma in Cavite City on May 8. These new patrol assets from Israel—BRP Gener Tinangag (PG 903) and BRP Domingo Deluana (PG 905 —were named after Philippine Marines Corps heroes. - INQUIRER

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): The reaffirmation of Manila’s ties with Washington during President Marcos’ visit to the United States last week sends a “stronger message” to China that the Philippines has “powerful friends” it could count on, a maritime law expert said at a government briefing on Monday (May 8).

“Of course, China will be concerned because they will see that we are not just a small country, but a country with many powerful friends. And, hopefully, because of that, they might think a bit that we cannot just be cast aside, especially when it comes to the West Philippine Sea,” lawyer Jay Batongbacal said at the Laging Handa public briefing.