Malacañang said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed key issues, including regional security, economic cooperation, and stability in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) during a recent phone conversation.

At a Palace press briefing on Monday, June 1, Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro said she would defer full details of the discussion to the Department of Foreign Affairs, but confirmed that the call covered both economic and security concerns.

“Sa naging pag-uusap sa telepono sa pagitan ng US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., tinalakay ang mahahalagang usaping pang-ekonomiya, partikular ang information technology business process management, usaping enerhiya o oil supply, usaping pang-ekonomiya at pang-seguridad na may kinalaman sa patuloy na ugnayan ng dalawang bansa,” Castro said.

She added that both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and security in the region, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, and recognized the need to prevent rising tensions.

“Sa kanilang pag-uusap, binigyang-diin ang kahalagahan ng kapayapaan at seguridad sa rehiyon, particular sa West Philippine Sea, kung saan kapwa kinikilala ang pangangailangan itaguyod ang katatagan at maiwasan ang mga tensyon sa rehiyon,” she said.

Castro also noted that the Philippines and the United States discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation on peace and security, highlighting the long-standing alliance between the two countries.

“Binigyang diin ang lakas ng ugnayan Pilipinas at Estados Unidos na naguugas sa 80 years na diplomatic relations at 75 years as allies as of 2026,” she added.

The Palace official said further details, particularly on possible commitments regarding energy cooperation, would be addressed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Tess Lazaro.