PRRD, Trump mum on HR

MANILA - The issue of human rights did not come up during the 40-minute bilateral meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and United States President Donald Trump, Malacañang said on Monday, November 13.

The two leaders, however, had a “frank discussion” on several issues, including the Philippines’ brutal crackdown on narcotics that has killed thousands of suspects, said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

He said Trump appeared “sympathetic” when Duterte mentioned his relenltess campaign against illegal drugs trade.

“The issue of human rights did not arise. It was not brought up. It was President Duterte who discussed 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, merely nodding his head, indicating that he understood the domestic problem that we

face on drugs,” Roque said.

Shortly after the bilateral meeting between the two leaders, a foreign journalist asked Trump whether he raised the human rights issue with Duterte.

Duterte, responding to the reporter’s query, said they would not entertain any questions concerning the purported human rights violation in the Philippines. SunStar Philippines