Duterte ‘sure’ of no talks on human rights

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday he was “sure” Donald Trump would not raise human rights concerns when they meet in Manila, after the US president praised his deadly drug war.

Trump was set to land in the Philippine capital yesterday ahead of a two-day summit, and rights groups have urged him to pressure Duterte over the thousands of lives lost in the controversial anti-drugs crackdown.

Duterte expressed confidence this would not happen, saying Trump had already given him “words of encouragement” during a brief encounter on the sidelines of another regional summit in Vietnam on Saturday.

“He said something about: ‘You know, you handle it very well’,” Duterte told reporters yesterday morning after returning to Manila.

He said Trump was referring to the crackdown on drugs as well as a military campaign against Islamic State supporters in the southern Philippines.

When asked if the issue of extra-judicial killings – which rights groups say are rampant in the drug war – would be discussed, Duterte said: “I’m sure he will not take it up”.

Duterte won elections last year after promising to eradicate illegal drugs in society with an unprecedented crackdown that would see up to 100,000 people killed.

Since he took office, police have reported killing 3,967 people in the crackdown.

Another 2,290 people have been murdered in drug-related crimes, while thousands of other deaths remain unsolved.

Many Filipinos back Duterte, believing he is taking necessary measures to fight crime, but rights groups warn he may be orchestrating a crime against humanity.

Amnesty International on Saturday called on Trump to raise the issue with Duterte, either publicly or privately. The pair are tentatively scheduled to hold talks today.

“The US has to use its influence and leverage to call out Duterte’s record on human rights,” said Amnesty’s Philippine director Jose Noel Olano. – AFP