MANILA, Philippines — United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg on Thursday maintained they are committed to fighting the illegal drug trade in the country, as well as around the world.
Goldberg said the US has the same problem but stressed that the issue should be dealt within the rule of law, following due process and respecting human rights.
"I think that President (Rodrigo) Duterte said during his SONA speech, as well as the inaugural speech, that that's what he intends to do but clearly these are important aspects of moving towards a solution to the drug problem," Goldberg said in an interview with ANC's Headstart.
US Secretary of State John Kerry also said that civil and human rights need to be protected to achieve security.
Kerry met with Duterte at the ?Malacañan Palace on Wednesday to discuss various issues including the South China Sea dispute and the fight against crime.
READ: Kerry in Manila: Protect human rights while keeping society safe
Goldberg noted that both Duterte and Kerry are former prosecutors and they both know the legal aspects of the fight against crime and drugs.
"They know about how to go about the legal aspects of this but we made clear that this is the way that we deal with it and this is the way that everyone should deal with it. I think that's at least from the Philippine side that they said they were going to proceed," Goldberg said.
Duterte had called for a "relentless and sustained" fight against criminality, illegal drugs and corruption upon taking office on June 30.
Almost 300 alleged drug peddlers have been killed while more than 120,000 drug pushers and users have turned themselves over to authorities.
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