US War officials meet PBBM at Malacañang

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 11, 2026

Photo courtesy: PNA

Malacañang – Two senior officials from the United States Department of War held a courtesy call with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace, marking the Philippines as the first stop in their Southeast Asia trip.

Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby and Assistant Secretary of War for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs John Noh met with Marcos at the presidential palace, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

The PCO said the visit forms part of the president’s ongoing diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening ties with key partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

Colby and Noh chose the Philippines as their first destination before continuing on to other stops in Southeast Asia, the PCO said.

The Philippines has been steadily deepening its security cooperation with Washington in recent years amid tensions in the South China Sea, and high-level visits by American defense officials have become a regular feature of that relationship. The Department of War is the renamed successor to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Neither the PCO nor the visiting officials released further details on the specific agenda discussed during the courtesy call. The Philippine Canadian Inquirer will provide updates as more information on the officials’ Southeast Asia itinerary and any related bilateral announcements becomes available.