Philippines’ Duterte sparking global concern, US envoy says

MANILA, Philippines — A top American diplomat for Asia said Monday that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial remarks and a “real climate of uncertainty” about his government’s intentions have sparked distress in the U.S. and other countries.

Daniel Russel, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said he also relayed to Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay that there is international concern over continuing killings under Duterte’s crackdown against illegal drugs. In addition, Secretary of State John Kerry spoke by phone Sunday with Yasay about “recent challenges” in bilateral relations, the State Department said.

Russel’s visit to the Philippines, part of a threenation trip, comes amid increasing uncertainty about Washington’s treaty alliance with Manila. Duterte has displayed antagonism toward America, declaring his desire to scale back military engagements with the U.S. and telling President Barack Obama to “go to hell.”

Duterte’s administration, however, has not formalized his public declarations to remove U.S. counterterrorism forces from the volatile southern Philippines and stop large-scale joint exercises involving American forces, creating confusion among even his Cabinet officials.

Duterte sparked diplomatic alarm when he announced his “separation” with the United States during a state visit to Beijing last week. Upon returning home the next day, Duterte said he did not mean he was severing diplomatic ties with Washington but only wanted to end a foreign policy that’s overly oriented toward the U.S.

Russel said the U.S. remains committed to a solid alliance with and providing assistance to the Philippines.