BBM, Trump discuss alliance in phone call

US president-elect asks Marcos: How's Imelda?

- HELEN FLORES

President Marcos said he and US president-elect Donald Trump discussed their countries' alliance and their desire to further strengthen the relationship in a phone call yesterday.

Marcos told reporters the call with Trump was "very friendly" and "very productive," and said he planned to see Trump as soon as he could.

"I think president-elect Trump was happy to hear from the Philippines," said Marcos, whose two-year-old administration has strengthened Manila's defense relationship with Washington as both countries face common security challenges in the region.

"We continued to talk about the relations the alliance between the United States and the Philippines. And I expressed to him our continuing desire to strengthen that relationship between our two countries, which is a relationship that is as deep as can possibly be because it has been for a very long time," Marcos told reporters in Catanduanes where he inspected areas hit by Super Typhoon Pepito and distributed assistance to affected communities.

He also recalled telling Trump of the "overwhelming" support Filipino-Americans gave him during the recent US elections.

"I'm sure he will remember that when we meet...and I plan to meet him as soon as I can," Marcos said.

Marcos followed up his remarks with a Facebook post showing a photo of himself sitting at a desk between two Christmas trees and speaking into his smartphone.

The Chief Executive has sought to rebuild bilateral ties that frayed under his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who was hostile to the US, although he warmed up to Trump when the latter first became president.

Last year, Marcos made the first official visit by a Philippine leader to the US in more than 10 years.