Duterte says no EJK discussion with Trump

MANILA, Philippines — The issue of extrajudicial killings was not discussed during President Rodrigo Duterte’s brief interaction with United States President Donald Trump last Saturday in Vietnam.

 

Duterte said they merely exchanged pleasantries during their first encounter, which happened hours before the Philippine leader returned to the country. Both Duterte and Trump attended the recently concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meet.

 

“Well, I shook his hands. And before the closing, he kept on saying ‘ba-bye.’

 

READ: Trump meets Duterte: See you in Manila

 

“And he said something about, 'You know, you handle it very well…' I do not want to brag. These are the things that you do not brag about: the Marawi and then the drugs - words of encouragement,” Duterte told journalists at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Sunday.

 

“Not extrajudicial killing. Well, he cannot afford it. We do not talk about these things because, first of all, they are not true; and the second is, we do not do it,” he added.

 

Duterte believes Trump will not bring up the issue during their bilateral meeting on Monday.

 

“I’m sure he (Trump) will not take it up,” Duterte said.

 

“He is not the Human Rights Commission. So it’s only the representatives there. Because the US like the Philippines is run by three great departments,” he added, referring to American lawmakers who had urged Trump to raise the issue of killings in his meeting with the Philippine president.

 

READ: Palace confident Trump won't bring up drug war with Duterte

 

The US under former President Barack Obama had a rough relationship with the Philippines over the spate of deaths tied to Duterte’s brutal war against illegal drugs.

 

The Obama administration had repeatedly raised concerns about the killings and had urged Duterte to uphold human rights in all anti-drug raids.

 

Duterte lashed back at the US by accusing it of undermining the Philippines’ sovereignty by interfering with its internal affairs. He also claimed that the US has no moral ascendancy to lecture him on human rights because of its atrocities during the Iraqi invasion, the Vietnam War and the Philippine-American War. The tough-talking leader has also denied endorsing extrajudicial killings, saying those who are into it are doing a “dirty job” and do not act like men.

 

READ: Resuming rebuke of Obama, Duterte calls him 'black, arrogant'

 

When Trump assumed the presidency last January, Duterte still hurled criticisms at the US but expressed confidence that he would be able to get along well with the American leader.

 

Unlike Obama, Trump was more sympathetic with Duterte’s anti-drug crackdown, even saying that the Philippine leader is doing a “great job.”

 

Duterte and Trump are expected to talk about trade, terrorism and the South China Sea dispute during their bilateral meeting.

 

The president challenged his critics to find a soldier or policeman who will prove that he ordered the summary execution of drug suspects.

 

“You will have to find a soldier or a policeman anywhere in the country where I ordered the killing of a man on bended knees, in surrender, or lying down.”

 

READ: DOJ to ban US lawmakers should Duterte order it

 

If at all, criminal liability is personal. That’s the rule,” Duterte said.  

 

“When you commit a crime and there’s no conspiracy, it is you. It is not transferred to anybody else. By saying that, ‘I will destroy you, I kill you,’ that is not a conspiracy. That is the rage in my heart for treating the Filipinos like s***,” he added.