Phl grateful for US military funding - Gibo

The Philippines is grateful for the United States' enduring support and the exemption of the country's foreign military financing from foreign aid freeze, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said.

- By PIA LEE-BRAGO

On Friday, the Philippines hosted US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his first official visit to Asia and the Indo-Pacific.

Teodoro emphasized that his counterpart's visit showed the importance of the country's bilateral alliance with the US.

The Philippines, he said, is gratified by the importance placed on the stability and enhancement of US-Philippines relationship as a linchpin of securing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

"We are grateful for the enduring support of the United States, including the State Department in part, in no small way, through the efforts of Secretary and the rest of the team, for a waiver of foreign military financing for the Philippines," Teodoro said.

The US exempted a "portion" of its military assistance to the Philippines from its foreign aid freeze.

Hegseth met with President Marcos and Teodoro.