US Ambassador Lee Lipton visits Davao City, meets Mayor Baste Duterte

DAVAO — US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton on Thursday visited Davao City and met with Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte at city hall, where he was welcomed by government employees and residents waving American and Philippine flags.

Before the city hall visit, Lipton attended an executive luncheon with Duterte, Senator Robin Padilla, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, and local officials.

Padilla, who said in a social media post that he is personally friends with Lipton, said the ambassador was in the city to discuss strengthening the local economy and advancing humanitarian work in the Bangsamoro region and across Mindanao.

“The meeting, led by Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte and the United States Embassy, aims to open the grand door to free and safe business for the progress of the Land of Promise,” Padilla said.