‘Hillary Clinton likely to visit RP typhoon victims’

While she will have just 24 hours in Manila, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will likely try to squeeze in a visit to typhoon victims in her packed schedule, the US ambassador to the Philippines said Tuesday. US Ambassador Kristie Ann Kenney said in a radio interview that they are trying to fit in a possible visit to a relief center so Clinton can show her “solidarity" with the victims of recent cyclones “Ondoy" (Ketsana) and “Pepeng" (Parma), which caused massive flooding in portions of Metro Manila, the Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Cordillera regions. “She wants to show solidarity with the Philippine people in the wake of the storms and typhoons. We are still developing her schedule but we very much expect to include a visit to a relief site so she can get a chance to see how people are doing and see how else we can continue to help our Philippine friends," Kenney told dzBB radio in an interview. During the recent cyclones that hit the Philippines, hundreds of US troops helped in the rescue and relief efforts. [See: US troops help Philippines as storm toll tops 600] In Ondoy and Pepeng’s aftermath, Philippine officials asked US troops, who were in the country for an annual military exercise, to help with relief operations. About 700 US Marines and sailors were on hand to help out. The American soldiers assisted the Philippine military in distributing relief goods to calamity-stricken provinces. Japan-based American troops also helped in cleanup work in Metro Manila, which experienced the worst flooding in over 40 years after Ondoy dumped record rains on September 26. APEC meeting Clinton's visit to the country on Thursday and Friday will come ahead of her trip to Singapore for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting. During her stay in the Philippines, Clinton will also talk with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In Tuesday’s interview, Kenny said Clinton would likely discuss other issues such as making global jobs available to people. “I think she’ll be approaching much more in how can we keep working together and how we can use that influence in the region," Kenney said. Other topics that Clinton may take up with Romulo may include global issues like developments in Burma and North Korea, the economy, and “probably" counter-terrorism and climate change. “You know, the issues that affect not only America and the Philippines but our other Asian neighbors as well," she said. Philippine politics Kenney said Clinton may also take up Philippine politics, but insisted the Secretary of State will not go into the specifics or endorse any candidate. She said Clinton will likely be more interested in a good election and a good transition of government. “It will be interesting to see how it goes. You cannot possibly be in the Philippines now without being caught up in election fever," Kenney said. “Sec. Clinton does not want to get into specific politics, she’s not going to support any one candidate or interfere in one way but I am sure she’ll be excited to think about a good election coming up how it will be transparent, a good transition between governments," she added. - with reports from Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV