Pentagon: US focused on assistance to Philippines amid Duterte's tirades

MANILA, Philippines — The United States (US) remains focused on providing assistance to the Philippines despite the latest remarks of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Department of State said on Thursday.

Duterte recently challenged the United States, the European Union (EU) and human rights advocates to pull out their aid to the Philippines if they continue to criticize his anti-narcotics campaign.

"I do not expect the human rights (advocates), I do not expect (US President Barack) Obama, I do not expect the EU to understand me. Do not understand me and if you think it’s high time for you guys to withdraw your assistance, go ahead. We will not beg for it," Duterte said in a speech.

READ: Rody: Philippines will survive without foreign aid

US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said that the American government is focused on assistance efforts that will best benefit the Filipino people.

"As I told you, we’re focused on the assistance that we’re providing now. And look, in Fiscal Year ’17 alone that assistance totals about $180 million, and that’s this fiscal year coming, and we’re committed to that," Kirby said in a press briefing.

Kirby cited the Leahy Law which assures that any units that violate international law will not get aid and assistance from the US.

"It’s a law we strongly believe in. And whether it’s in the Philippines or anywhere around the world, that review process is near continuous and it will remain so," the spokesperson said.

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

Sen. Patrick Leahy, author of the Leahy Law, stressed that the spate of killings in the country show Duterte's lack of respect for international human rights.

Duterte has repeatedly slammed the US, the United Nations and the EU for criticizing his campaign against illegal drugs.

"Kayong US, EU you can call me anything but I was never into or I am never into hypocrisy like you," Duterte said.

"There are migrants escaping from the Middle East. You allow them to rot and then you're worried about the deaths of about one thousand, or two thousand, or three thousand," the president said.

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