Philippines to US: Let us chart our own course

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines respects the opinion of other nations but called on long-time ally the United States to let it chart its own course, a Palace official said on Thursday.

An American senator earlier warned that the US may take action if extrajudicial killings and state-sanctioned violence continue in the Philippines.

READ: US senators reconsider assistance to Philippines amid drug war

"We respect the opinion of others but we also give ourselves the permission to chart our own course and fulfill our destiny on our own terms," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing.

Abella stressed that the relationship between the Philippines and the US remains unchanged despite differences in political perspectives and opinions.

"We’d also like to stress that extrajudicial killings is not state-sanctioned and that the Philippines remains committed to human rights, the rule of law, and to democracy," Abella said.

US Sen. Patrick Leahy said that the US State Department is set to discuss with the US Senate its current assistance for the Philippines. This will affect the national budget of the US for next year.

The American senator authored the Leahy Law, which prohibits the US Department of State and Department of Defense from providing assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights.

'Philippines committed to human rights'

The Palace official said that the Philippines has not veered away from its commitment to human rights despite the strong stance of President Rodrigo Duterte against illegal drugs.

"The drug problem in the Philippines itself is so pervasive that it undermines the human rights of the people and the rule of law," the presidential spokesperson said.

Abella maintained that the Philippines is committed to international agreements on human rights and that Filipinos continue to enjoy civil and political rights despite the new administration's war on drugs.

The alliance between the Philippines and the US dates back to the 1950s, during which the two countries signed a Mutual Defense Treat, although ties can be traced back further to when the country was a US colony.

Duterte, however, has announced that he wants an end to the joint military exercises between Filipino and American troops. The president noted that China is not in favor of Philippine soldiers holding war games with the US.

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