New NY Times editorial: Duterte 'not a man who should be welcomed to the White House'

The New York Times has published another editorial critical of President Rodrigo Duterte, this time in light of United States President Donald Trump's invitation to the Philippine leader.

In the piece titled "Donald Trump Embraces Another Despot," the newspaper said Duterte is "obviously not a man who should be welcomed to the White House."

"Though the Philippines is an ally and a democracy, Mr. Duterte is neither a democratic leader nor a worthy ally. For about two decades as mayor of Davao, he was accused of allowing death squads to roam the city and kill freely," the New York Times said in its editorial published on Monday, May 1 (US time).

"Most victims were poor drug users and low-level criminals, but bystanders, children and political opponents were also caught up in the bloodshed," it added.

The newspaper said that the US has been long a "beacon of democracy and a global advocate of human rights and the rule of law," but one that has faltered under Trump's presidency.

It then cited Trump's decision of inviting Duterte to the White House as an example.

"Like so much else under President Trump, though, this idea has now been turned on its head and people are worried about the very survival of the values on which America built its reputation and helped construct an entire international system, including the United Nation," the editorial piece read.

"The latest example is Mr. Trump’s decision to invite Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, to the White House," it added.

Trump earlier extended an invitation to Duterte over a phone call after the Philippines hosted the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The phone call was described as "very friendly," in which the leaders discussed the seeming "threat" of North Korea.

Duterte had a strained relationship with the US during the administration of former President Barack Obama who criticized his war on drugs.

"During the last administration, Mr. Duterte disrespected President Barack Obama by calling him the 'son of a whore' and threatened to abandon his country’s alliance with the United States for one with China. This is obviously not a man who should be welcomed to the White House," the editorial piece said.

NYT said that the way to improve diplomatic ties is through private discussions instead of an official visit.

"Administration officials said that Mr. Trump was looking to mend ties with the Philippines as a hedge against China’s expansion in the South China Sea. But there is no evidence that he consulted the State Department, or that the White House has done anything to prepare the groundwork for a Duterte visit," it said.

"The normal way to mend diplomatic ties is to negotiate privately over months and have the process culminate in, not begin with, a White House meeting," it added.

Duterte, for his part, has yet to accept the invitation as he indicated that he was prioritizing his expected trips to new allies China and Russia. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/JST, GMA News