Possible Obama-Duterte meeting to focus on building rapport

MANILA, Philippines - If US President Barack Obama and President Duterte would have the chance to meet at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in Peru next month, the meeting would focus on building rapport and mutual respect, a Palace official said.

In a briefing at Malacañang on Friday, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said there are no specific issues yet outlined for the economic leaders’ meeting on Nov. 19 to 20 in Lima.

“But if you will notice where the President comes from, it’s basically that he wants to be able to establish mutual respect and dignity and acceptance and support,” the spokesman announced.

Duterte has been openly hitting at the US and Obama, as well as several international groups like the United Nations and European Union, for their criticism of the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Both leaders were supposed to meet on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Laos last month.

The US cancelled the meeting without giving any reason and Obama met instead with South Korea President Park Geun-hye.

Abella said Duterte has been deeply affected by the criticisms hurled against his campaign against drugs, which has already resulted in more than 3,600 people killed in police operations or by unidentified assailants. 

“So, if there’s anything at all, I think, that would matter during that conversation is that to be able to establish a sense of rapport, a sense of mutual respect and not so much on a particular issue, you know, specific issues, but the establishment of warmth in relationship,” Abella added.

He noted that while in Japan, Duterte said he was pleased with Tokyo’s support, encouragement and non-interference in his war against the illicit drug trade.

The President has repeatedly said that his campaign against drugs will not stop until the last drug pusher or drug lord is taken off the streets.

He added his aim is to protect the future generations and prevent the country from becoming a nation controlled by narco-politicians.

A few days after assuming the presidency, Duterte named five police generals allegedly protecting the drug trade in the country. He also named Sen. Leila de Lima, a staunch critic, as among those who protected convicted drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison.