US senator questions PH Embassy’s party at Trump Hotel

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel del Gallego Romualdez with Navy Under Secretary Thomas Modly at the ceremonial cutting of the cake celebrating Philippine Independence. (Photo: Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, USA/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — United States Senator Bob Menendez has requested that the Philippine Embassy in the U.S. provide information regarding a party the latter hosted in a hotel owned by U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a letter dated June 14, 2018, Menendez asked Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel del Gallego Romualdez for information about the Philippine government’s transaction with the Trump Organization.

“The event I am requesting information about occurred at Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. on June 12, 2018, to commemorate the 120th of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence,” Menendez wrote.

The request for Trump emoluments information from five foreign governments — Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, and the Philippines — came after the one he sent to the Trump Organization on March 1, 2018.

“The Trump Organization’s response to that letter contained extensive legal arguments regarding the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution, but little detail regarding the revenues it earned from foreign governments,” a statement from the Committee read.

“As you know, President Trump has refused to completely divest from his business interests or place them in a blind trust, which creates the potential for conflicts of interest that may lead him to put his own financial interests above those of the U.S. government and the American people,” Menendez told Romualdez in a letter.

“Our founding fathers had this concern in mind when they wrote Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution, which prohibits federal officeholders from accepting emoluments from foreign states without first obtaining the affirmative consent of Congress,” he added.

The Committee asked if its usual procurement process for hosting events at hotels or other venues in Washington, D.C. was followed for its Independence Day celebration at the Trump Hotel.

It also inquired if other hotels or venue were considered and bid for the event.

The Committee also wanted to know if the Philippine government’s decision to hold an event at the Trump Hotel was influenced by any U.S. organization or individuals, including but not limited to lobbyists, government officials, and employees of the Trump Organization.

A detailed billing information, as well as the date when the invoice and payment were made, were also requested.

The Philippine Embassy’s Independence Day celebration was attended by 300 guests, including the Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly, according to a Balitang America report.

Romualdez stated that holding the event at the Trump Hotel illustrates the relationship between the Philippines and the U.S.

“Having it in a hotel that happens to have his name, is not necessarily the end-all be-all, it’s a statement, it’s a statement that we have a good relationship with this president,” Romualdez was quoted as saying in the said report.

The Ambassador was requested to provide the Committee with information no later than July 11, 2018.