James A. Walsh, a senior US drug official within the State Department, made the statement after the Philippine National Police resumed Oplan Tokhang operations under new guidelines aimed at ensuring no policeman would use the drug war as a pretext to commit crimes.
“Many folks have been tracking the (extrajudicial killings) in the Philippines and the trends are going down so there is some encouragement that we are seeing..,” the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement told reporters.
“I would describe the United States as being cautiously optimistic in the trends when it comes to a good… appropriate way for a drug campaign,” he added.
Walsh said the United States was still providing support in such areas as “drug demand reduction programs,” rule of law and boosting maritime security.
Relations with Manila have improved markedly since the days when Duterte criticized then-US President Barack Obama for intervening in Philippine affairs.
Duterte said in a telephone conversation in late-2016, then president-elect Trump told him that Manila was conducting its deadly drug war “the right way.” With a report from Agence France Presse
