Rody: No EJK talk with Trump

MANILA, Philippines — The issue of extrajudicial killings (EJK) was not discussed during President Duterte’s brief interaction with US President Donald Trump last Saturday in Vietnam.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, however, may raise the issue with Duterte at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

“There are a range of issues that I could bring up, and I may bring (the killings up) if I have the opportunity, but there is no formal meeting with him,” Trudeau is quoted in a report by CBC News.

He said “there’s always human rights concerns to bring up with a range of leaders.”

Duterte said he and Trump only exchanged pleasantries during their first encounter, which occurred hours before he returned to the country. Both Duterte and Trump attended the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meet in Da Nang.

“Well, I shook his hands, and before the closing (Trump) kept on saying ‘buh-bye,’” Duterte said.

“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: (our handling of the) Marawi (siege) and the drug war—words of encouragement,” Duterte told journalists at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday upon his return.

“Not (EJK). Well, (Trump) 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 even during their bilateral meeting today.

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

“He is not the human rights commission. So it’s only the (House of Representatives in America). 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 EJK in his meeting 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 urged Duterte to uphold human rights in all anti-drug raids.

Duterte lashed back at the US by accusing it of undermining Philippine sovereignty by interfering in 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, Vietnam War and the Philippine-American War.

The tough-talking leader has also denied endorsing EJK, saying those who do it are doing a “dirty job” and do not act like human beings.

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 seems 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.

Duterte 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, surrendering or lying down,” he said.

“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 (alone who are guilty). (Guilt) is not transferred to anybody else. Saying ‘I will destroy you, I kill you’ is not a conspiracy. That is the rage in my heart for (those who treat) the Filipino like s***.”