Duterte talks about human rights in phone call with Trudeau

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED 2:07 p.m.) — Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte revealed in a press conference early Thursday that he and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed human rights when the latter called him.

Duterte said that he received a call fro Trudeau at around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday which lasted for nine minutes.

The presumptive president said that Trudeau brought up the issue of adherence to the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"I'm following it. I said that we are partners, may we remain partners for all time," Duterte said told reporters in Davao City.

"Universal Declaration of Human rights, fine, I said 'I'm following it, but Mr. Prime Minister, with few exceptions," he said.

Duterte has been criticized for his human rights record in Davao, where he was mayor for 22 years. Hundreds have been killed in that port city on an anti-crime purge some believed he secretary run. On the presidential campaign trail, Duterte repeatedly vowed to kill drug criminals.

Speaking to Trudeau, Duterte also apologized for the death of a Canadian citizen who had been abducted by Abu Sayyaf members.

"I said 'Mr. Prime Minister, please accept my apologies for the incident. We will try our very best and see to it that it will never happen again. and rest assured that the time comes we will be able to apprehend the criminals and exact justice," the Davao City mayor said.

The militants beheaded John Ridsdel on April 25 in Sulu, an impoverished province in the south after they failed to get a ransom of 300 million pesos ($6.3 million).

Trudeau earlier condemned the killing but vowed not to give in to the kidnappers' ransom demands. Following the beheading, the Philippine military launched an offensive that security officials believe have killed more than a dozen gunmen so far.

Duterte's spokesperson earlier said that the next president is looking forward to forming a diverse Cabinet patterned after Trudeau's.

Trudeau is the second world leader who called Duterte to congratulate him after United Stated President Barack Obama. — with reports from the Associated Press