US warns Duterte over rhetoric

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s fiery rhetoric and deadly crime war are becoming a growing concern around the world, the top US envoy for Asia warned yesterday in Manila.

US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel met with the Philippines’ defence and foreign ministers on Monday, after Duterte last week announced his nation’s “separation” from the United States.

Duterte quickly walked back from the statement, saying he did not plan to sever the nations’ seven-decade alliance, but Russel signalled many people around the world were becoming increasingly worried about the Filipino president’s repeated tirades.

“The succession of controversial statements, comments and a real climate of uncertainty about the Philippines’ intentions have created consternation in a number of countries,” Russel said.

“Not only in mine and not only among governments, but also growing concern in other communities, in the expat Filipino community, in corporate boardrooms as well. This is not a positive trend.”

Russel said he also directly conveyed to Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay American concerns about Duterte’s war on crime, which has claimed about 3,700 lives in less than four months and raised fears about mass extrajudicial killings.

“I also reiterated the importance that we place and that others place on due process and respect for the rights of citizens as an important part of protecting our communities as well,” Russel said.

“And the growing uncertainty about this and other issues is bad for business as well.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry rang Yasay yesterday to discuss the alliance, Russel said.

Duterte has frequently voiced deep anger at American criticism of his efforts to eliminate drugs in society, repeatedly branding President Barack Obama as a “son of a [expletive]” and telling him to “go to hell” for expressing concerns.