Duterte says felt rapport with Trump, assures US-Philippines ties intact

MANILA/WASHINGTON: Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte described as “encouraging” his phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday, during which he felt a rapport between them and gave assurance that ties were intact, despite a period of rocky relations.

Trump’s seven-minute chat with the firebrand Philippine president follows months of uncertainty about one of Washington’s most important Asian alliances, stoked by Duterte’s hostility towards President Barack Obama and repeated threats to sever decades-old defence ties.

Duterte’s anger was unleashed following Obama’s concerns about possible human rights abuses in his war on drugs, during which more than 2,000 people have been killed.

Duterte said Trump was “sensitive” and understanding about his crackdown and was encouraged by what he interpreted as Trump’s indication he would not interfere.

“I could sense a good rapport, an animated President-elect Trump.

And he was wishing me success in my campaign against the drug problem,” Duterte said in comments his office released on Saturday.

“He understood the way we are handling it ...I supposed that what he really wanted to say was that we would be the last to interfere in the affairs of your own country.

“He added: “We are doing it as a sovereign nation, the right way.

And he wishes us well.

And I said that, well, we assured him of our ties with America.

“His special adviser, Christopher Go, had earlier said in a text message to media that Trump had invited Duterte to visit the White House next year.

There appeared to be confusion, however.

Duterte mentioned an invite to Washington and New York, and that Trump asked him to notify him of his presence “if I’m around”.

A statement issued by Trump’s transition team made no mention of that.

It said the two men “noted the long history of friendship” between their countries and would work closely on “matters of shared interest and concern”.

Duterte made waves when he visited China in October and announced his “separation” from the United States.

In five months in office, he has upended Philippine foreign policy by berating the United States, pursuing a new alliance with Russia and also China, with which Manila has a history of bitter disputes.