‘So what?’ Sotto, Koko say as US lawmaker wants Duterte barred from White House

Senate leaders on Friday brushed off a US congressman’s remark that President Rodrigo Duterte should not be invited to the White House because of his human rights record. 

“So what?” Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said in a text message. “I don’t think the President is interested in going to the White House anyway.”

“Besides, he is not the President of the US,” Sotto added.

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said inviting Duterte to the White House is the US government’s prerogative.

“Then they should not invite the President to the White House. Anyway, that's their decision or prerogative,” Pimentel, president of ruling PDP-Laban, said.

On Thursday, Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern said he would personally lead the protest against Duterte if he visits the United States.

McGovern, co-chair of the US Congress’ human rights commission, criticized the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, saying the President “by all accounts seems to not have a high regard for human rights.”

“No other country comes to mind where people are assassinated in the streets in the name of fighting drugs and leaders brag about it as a good thing,” he said during the panel’s investigation on the Philippines’ war on drugs.

“I certainly believe, very strongly, that a man with the human rights records of President Duterte should not be invited to the White House, and if he comes, I will lead the protest,” McGovern said.

In a phone call last April, US President Donald Trump invited Duterte to visit Washington. Duterte, in May, said he has yet to accept Trump’s invitation, as he was prioritizing trips to new allies, China and Russia. — RSJ/KVD, GMA News