Manila, Philippines —President Rodrigo Duterte has described as “encouraging” his phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump, whom he said was understanding of his bloody war on drugs.
Duterte called Trump Friday night and he said they talked about a lot of things, including the country’s drug problem.
“I could sense a good rapport, an animated President-elect Trump. And he was wishing me success in my campaign against the drug problem,” Duterte said in comments his office released on Saturday.
“He understood the way we are handling it and I said that there’s nothing wrong in protecting a country,” Duterte added.
Trump is wishing the country well, Duterte said.
During his phone call with Trump, Duterte assured the new U.S. president of the Philippines’ ties with America.
Duterte also invited Trump to the Philippines for the 2017 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, which the Philippines will host.
“He will try his best to be here. He wants to attend the Summit and that would be great for our country,” Duterte said, quoting the incoming U.S. president.
He said Trump also invited him to New York and Washington.
