(Eagle News) — Rapport between President Rodrigo Duterte and United States President Donald Trump was “very good” with the relationship between the two countries appearing “very warm, very friendly” and “very candid” at the same time during bilateral talks on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
According to Roque, such was the “friendly” relationship between Duterte and Trump the US President at one point asked his Philippine counterpart to sing prior to the talks.
“It was apparently noticed by President Trump that Duterte was humming Pilita Corrales “Ikaw,” and (Trump) encouraged him to sing,” Roque said.
Roque said that during the bilateral talks, Duterte himself reiterated that the Philippine-US alliance “has always been very strong and very important.”
According to Roque, Duterte, however, also “acknowledged there were sour points in the relationship,” specifically when then-US President Barack Obama made critical statements about his then-Philippine counterpart’s administration.
But Roque said Trump “addressed this by assuring he has always been an ally” of Duterte “since he was elected in office.”
“They have similar feelings toward former US President (Obama),” Roque said.
Drug war
During the meeting, Roque said the issue of human rights was not raised, but that President Duterte “explained his war against drugs” at length.
He said the US President “seemed to be appreciative” of Duterte’s efforts.
“There was a clarification on whether it was as bad as Central America,” Roque said, to which Duterte supposedly replied that this was the case in some aspects.
Roque said the President also had to explain to Trump that shabu was the same as meth in the US.
“What I can confirm is the US president did not comment on the war on drugs. There was an instance Trump was nodding as the president (Duterte) was explaining the war on drugs (and complaining) that the (United Nations) special rapporteur even brought to the Philippines an expert to say that drugs are not dangerous to health,” Roque said.
He said Duterte also produced a UN report refuting the rapporteur’s conclusions.
Trade
It was Trump who raised the issue of trade, Roque said.
According to the presidential spokesperson, the “Philippine side expressed hope that a free trade agreement can be concluded” between both countries.
Terrorism
The Philippine president also “recognized the contribution of the US in providing communication assistance during the Marawi conflict,” Roque said.
He said during the bilateral talks, the fight against terrorism was “a common interest identified” by both countries.
“The Philippine side made it clear amongst its priorities is dealing with terrorism and violent extremism,” Roque said.