Duterte to Trump, APEC leaders: Lay off PHL human rights

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday indicated that he would not allow US President Donald Trump and other leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit tell him off on human rights issues confronting his administration.

In a press conference before leaving for Vietnam forthe APEC Summit, Duterte was asked what matters he would discuss with the outspoken US President.

“I will not go there as a subservient lackey of anyone including what you would like to hear from me but which you cannot ask maybe or later on about human rights,” Duterte said.

“You want to ask a question? I'll give you an answer. Lay off. That's not your business. That is my business,” he added.

Duterte said that APEC leaders meet as sovereigns.

“The Philippines is not beholden to anyone. The Philippines is a sovereign state. I will not allow anybody to impose anything on my country. I will listen to you. But if it is not to the best of interest for my country, I will ignore you,” Duterte said.

Duterte said he would discuss trade, extremism and terrorism, and the South China Sea in his meeting with Trump.

The President early during his term had expletives thrown at then US President Barack Obama after the latter questioned Duterte's war on drugs and the thousands of killings blamed on the campaign.

The exchange led to a supposed meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos getting cancelled.

Following his election, Trump called Duterte on the phone in April and invited his Filipino counterpart to the White House.

Duterte's relationship with Trump is apparently better than with Obama. A US official said Trump has a "warm rapport" with Duterte.

Duterte, however, has repeatedly criticized other countries and groups—the United Nations and the European Union among them—for trying to intervene in the affairs of the Philippines particularly in its anti-drug campaign and human rights situation. —NB, GMA News