Palace: US expressed support for drug war

The United States has expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, Malacañang said on Thursday, as the chief executive vowed "harsher" and "bloodier" approaches to curbing the problem in the coming days.

Duterte met with officials from the US-Philippines Society, an organization that promotes strengthening ties between treaty allies, in the Palace on Wednesday.

Among those present during the courtesy call were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and US-Philippines Society co-chair Manuel Pangilinan. 

I was pleased to join distinguished members of the US-PH Society for a long and productive discussion with President Duterte, covering important issues of mutual concern. pic.twitter.com/IfjUa8C1cM

— Ambassador Sung Kim (@USAmbManila) February 21, 2019

During the meeting, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte explained that he waged a war against  illegal drugs because "he wants to protect and preserve this nation."

"According to him, there are three million Filipinos that have been enslaved by this drug industry and it has created dysfunctional families; and many crimes have been attributed to the taking of illegal drugs," Panelo said at a news conference.

"And the President also told them that he will not stop until the end of his term to end this illegal traffic of prohibited drugs. In response, the US Ambassador said that the US government supports the fight against drugs."

Duterte also said during the meeting that the relationship between the US and the Philippines "remains strong," Panelo said.

Since he assumed office in 2016, the President has been cozying up to China while launching a series of tirades against the US, whose previous government under Barack Obama had raised human rights complaints linked to the war on drugs.

Duterte once threatened to sever ties with the US, under Obama, and end joint military training for its criticisms of the anti-narcotics campaign.

The President, meanwhile, marveled at his good relationship with Obama's successor Donald Trump who had praised him for doing an "unbelievable" job on addressing the drug menace. — RSJ, GMA News