ASEAN ministers hoping to meet with US state secretary

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) are looking forward to a meeting with United States (US) Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the Philippines' top diplomat said Tuesday.

Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said that Philippines-US relations remain robust and active as Manila assumes chairmanship of the 10-member bloc.

"We're hoping at my level, the ASEAN ministers, are hoping still to have a meeting with Secretary Tillerson. I think it's only a matter of scheduling problems but certainly we are in touch with the United States," Manalo said in a televised media briefing.

Manalo noted that President Rodrigo Duterte already talked with US President Donald Trump earlier this year and that other senior government officials remain in touch with their American counterparts.

The Foreign Affairs secretary added that the Philippine officials should increase the number of discussions with US officials.

"The State Department is still in the process of reorganizing and I think we also have to give them some time but in the meantime, we are as much as possible trying to maintain contacts," Manalo said.

The Philippines is eyeing to enhance its cooperation with the US at the bilateral level, as well as the regional level, particularly in the ASEAN, the secretary said.

Duterte has been hostile toward the US following criticism on his campaign against the illegal drug trade.

The US, under the Obama administration, had been vocal against Duterte's war on drugs amid reports of rising extrajudicial killings of suspected drug offenders.

Duterte's stance toward the US has softened when Trump took office. The Philippine chief executive has invited the American president to attend the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines this year.