apparent Benigno Aquino III, left, exchanges pleasantries with new US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr., during the latter's courtesy call at Aquino III's residence at Manila's Quezon city Friday. Thomas, who congratulated the yet-to-be proclaimed Aquino III, became the first foreign diplomat to meet with Aquino. Portraits in background are his parents, the late Philippine President Corazon Aquino and his assassinated father Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. – AP MANILA – President-apparent Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Friday received the first international recognition of his landslide victory in the May 10 elections as US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas Jr. and other US diplomats paid a courtesy call on him at his Quezon City residence. Thomas, who speaks Filipino, congratulated Aquino in the Philippine dialect drawing surprised laughter from guests and reporters who witnessed the event. The US ambassador also paid tribute to the Philippines for respecting “the will of the people.” “We congratulate the Filipino people on this election process. There were some bumps and bruises but that is to be expected, we have that in the United States. But the will of the people has been respected,” Thomas said. The US envoy became the first foreign dignitary to offer his congratulations to Aquino despite the fact that the latter has not yet been officially proclaimed winner of the presidential election. Despite claims of poll fraud, no one has questioned Aquino's poll victory as the Liberal Party standard-bearer maintained a five-million lead over his closest rival in the latest partial and unofficial tally of more than 90 percent of election returns. “We have to respect the Filipino process. Remember we have to wait and see what the Filipino Senate and Congress say,” Thomas said. During their one-and-a-half hour meeting, the two discussed possible increased cooperation between their two countries. Thomas said the US hopes to work closely with the Philippines on issues that will be prioritized by the new government. “It is up to them how they will like to talk with the US. We are guests in your country,” he said. For his part, Aquino said he discussed various issues with the US envoy, including the ongoing construction of a bigger US embassy in Manila and a short briefing on terrorism. “We gave an update on the current state of relations,” Aquino said. However, the incoming president said they didn't talk about the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement.
