- Stirs celebratory event
By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – United States Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton paid a courtesy call to Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte Thursday, and was met with jubilant crowd of welcoming well-wishers waving US and Philippine flags.
Senators Robin Padilla and Christopher Lawrence Go, along with US Embassy representatives and Davao City government officials, were present during the event considered momentous by observers .
Padilla who described Lipton as a personal friend, said the visit is aimed at strengthening US economic and charitable programs in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In a social media post, the senator also said the engagement was an opportunity to promote business activities and support progress in Mindanao.
The visit followed Duterte’s meeting with Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Davide Giglio on October 20, during which they discussed bilateral relations and potential investment and cooperation in agriculture.
As of Friday, the Davao City Mayor’s Office has not released details of the discussions between Duterte and Lipton but, like other recent visits by other foreign diplomats, it elicits speculations that relates to changes in the national political landscape.
