Palace: Trump confirms PHL visit in phone call with Duterte

Malacañang on Sunday revealed that United States President Donald Trump confirmed in phone call with President Rodrigo Duterte that he would visit the Philippines as he is committed to the Philippine-US alliance.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that Trump called Duterte on Saturday evening, after the Philippines hosted the 30th ASEAN Summit.

Trump expressed to have an amiable working relationship with Duterte during the phone call.

"The ambit of the conversation between the two leaders includes the expression of commitment of US President Trump to the PH-US alliance and his interest in developing a warm, working relationship with President Duterte," he said.

"President Trump likewise mentioned that he looks forward to his visit to the Philippines in November for the East Asia Summit (EAS)," he added.

The East Asia Summit includes the 10 ASEAN member states, US, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, and South Korea. It will be held in November, after the 31st ASEAN Summit.

War on drugs

Abella said the two leaders again discussed Duterte's war on drugs during the phone call.

He said the US leader expressed "his understanding and appreciation of the challenges facing the Philippine President, especially on the matter of dangerous drugs."

Aside from the summit in November, the two leaders talked about "regional geo-political concerns," including the situation in the Korean Peninsula, which was also mentioned in the 30th ASEAN Chairman's Statement.

Abella confirmed that Trump invited Duterte to visit him in the White House. —LBG/ALG, GMA News