PH, US, Japan leaders’ conference call reset

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during an event at the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. —AFP

The trilateral phone call between Philippine President Marcos, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has been reset to Monday after the United States asked for a deferment due to the wildfires in Los Angeles, California.

“The trilateral leaders’ phone call with the US President, the Prime Minister of Japan, and the President of the Philippines has been moved to 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 13 (Manila time),” acting Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez said on Sunday.

According to Chavez, the United States sought the postponement amid the raging wildfires that have spread across large parts of southern California.

“It was conveyed that this [deferment] was due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles,” he said.

Malacañang did not release details on the agenda of the phone call, but Chavez said that each country would release its statement after the leaders have already spoken.

Also on Sunday, Mr. Marcos conveyed the Filipino nation’s sympathies to those who have been affected by the LA wildfires.

“On behalf of the Filipino people, I extend my deepest sympathies to all who have been affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California—a place that many of our ‘kababayans’ call home,” he said.

He also urged affected Filipinos to “stay safe and vigilant.”