MANILA, Philippines — “The United States is
no longer the Philippines' Big Brother.” this is the statement of the American
Ambassador Philip Goldberg to the
Philippines. As the 19th century foreign policy concept goes,
Goldberg said that the two countries are in different relationship as they are
now friends.
Goldberg also addressed concerns that the US'
numerous forms of assistance in the Philippines are mainly being intended for political and economic.
Just last year, Washington had promised about
P2.7 billion for the relief and rehabilitation of central Philippine areas
slammed by the powerful typhoon Yolanda in November 2013. The US also supports
the Philippine military with $50 million
in the past year.
Goldberg said that their government believes
they "should help when other people are suffering or have charitable necessities.""It's
in the nature of our country," said Goldberg, who also admitted that the
US is not unique from other countries when it comes in assisting friends and neighbors.
Yet, Goldberg explained that the Philippines-US ties are also different as
both countries share a "long history" of friendship and alliance,
Goldberg explained. Both countries are the oldest allies to each other.
He
also dismissed that the US' "involvement" in world matters such as in
the engagement in Syria and the Russia-Ukraine crisis is a form of "intervention."Goldberg
said that many problems fall on America's lap as a country with great social
and economical resources. - philstar
