Trump hails ‘great relationship’ with Duterte as Asia trip ends
MANILA: US President Donald Trump has hailed his “great relationship” with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who stands accused of acting with impunity over a brutal war on drugs that has left thousands dead .
The US president made no mention of human rights during brief remarks to reporters prior to a meeting with his Philippine counterpart, and both leaders ignored shouted questions about the drug crackdown.
According to a spokesman for Duterte, human rights issues were not raised during the meeting, although the pair did discuss their mutual distaste for Barack Obama.
“The issue of human rights did not arise. It was not brought up,” Harry Roque said of a 40-minute conversation in Manila. “It was President Duterte who brought up with President Trump the drug menace in the Philippines, and the US president appeared sympathetic and did not have any official position on the matter but was merely nodding his head,” he said, adding he was present.
Later, the White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said the matter of human rights came up “briefly”, although she did not say which president raised the issue.
At a lavish gala dinner on Sunday evening, the 72-year-old leader sang a hit Filipino love song , explaining after that it was “on the orders” of Trump.
One of the song’s verses begins: “You are the light in my world, a half of this heart of mine.”