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Duterte: Visit to 'friend' Trump just a matter of scheduling


President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday opened the possibility of embarking on a visit to the United States even as he admitted that long-haul flights would "kill" him.

Calling US President Donald Trump his "friend," Duterte said his visit to the US is just a question of scheduling.

"He's [Trump] my friend. And well, of course, I have been invited to the United States several times. But you know it’s not because of anybody or any place there. It has something to do with the schedule,” Duterte said during the Asia Pacific Healthy Islands Conference in Davao City.

The 73-year-old leader, however, said he "cannot stand long flights anymore."

"If it could only be a regional flight where I can go fly-in and fly-out in the evening, that would be very easy. But the long haul of 13, 14 hours would kill me," said Duterte, who admitted last month that he vomited during a flight from Seoul to Manila due to migraine.

"Even the recovery of a jet lag, it would take me about almost two to three days to just stretch it out before I can function as a person outside."

The rapport between Duterte and Trump is a notable shift from the Philippine leader's relationship with former US President Barack Obama, who, unlike his successor, had raised human rights complaints linked to the war on drugs against Duterte.

Since he assumed office in 2016, Duterte has been cozying up to China while launching a series of tirades against the US.

He once threatened to sever ties with the US, under Obama, and end joint military training for criticisms of his war on drugs. — BAP, GMA News

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