United States President-elect Donald Trump told President Rodrigo Duterte that Manila was conducting its deadly drug war “the right way,” the Philippine leader said yesterday, in stark contrast to the criticism he received from outgoing US President Barack Obama.

Duterte called Trump late Friday evening (Manila time) to congratulate him on his election victory with Trump, in turn, wishing him “success” in his controversial anti-crime crackdown, in which some 4,800 people have been killed since June, according to Duterte.

“He (Trump) was quite sensitive also to our worry about drugs. And he wishes me well… in my campaign (against illegal drugs) and he said that… we are doing it as a sovereign nation, the right way,” Duterte said in a statement yesterday.

Duterte, 71, launched an unprecedented war on drugs that drew a wave of global criticism with Obama urging the leader in September to conduct his campaign “the right way” following concerns over alleged extrajudicial killings.

Duterte’s call to the business tycoon-turned-president happened at 10:30 p.m. and lasted over seven minutes.

Trump’s office released a brief statement following the conversation, saying Duterte had congratulated Trump and the two agreed to work together closely.

In October Duterte announced a “separation” from the United States and had called for the withdrawal of American troops from his country, putting into question Manila’s 70-year-old alliance with Washington.

But on Saturday, Duterte said he “could sense a good rapport” with an “animated” Trump.

Video released by Duterte’s office showed the Philippine leader laughing as he chatted on the phone, later saying Trump would be “a good president for the United States of America.”

Duterte said the president-elect invited him to visit New York and Washington D.C. and he returned the favor by asking Trump to attend a regional summit that the Philippines is set to host next year.

“If I’m around, he (Trump) wants to be notified of my presence,” Duterte said.

The president’s statement was far from his previous anti-American rhetoric, wherein at one point, during a state visit to China, he even announced “it’s time to say goodbye” to the US.

“I will not go to America anymore. I will just be insulted there,” he also said back in October.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go earlier described Duterte’s call to Trump as “very engaging and animated conversation.”

“Nagkakaintindihan ’yun dalawa (The two understand each other),” said Go.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Elena L. Aben and Agence France-Presse

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