Drug Campaign was Highlight of Pres. Duterte, US President-Elect Trump Phone Talk

The illegal drugs campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte was the highlight of his telephone conversation with United States President-elect Donald Trump on Friday night.

“I could sense a good rapport, an animated President-elect Trump,” the President said of his talk with Trump. “And he was wishing me success in my campaign against the drug problem.”

According to the President, Trump was “quite sensitive to our worry about drugs”.

He said Trump told him the government is doing it as a sovereign nation, the right way, and that the latter understood the way “we are handling it”.

“I said that there’s nothing wrong in protecting a country. It was a bit very encouraging in the sense that I suppose that what he really wanted to say was that ‘We would be the last to interfere in the affairs of your own country,‘” the President said.

Over the many things they discussed, the President said Trump also wished the Filipino people well.

“He extends his warmest regards to the Filipino people,” he said. “And I said that, well, we assured him of our ties with America.”

“I appreciate the response that I got from President-elect Trump and I would like to wish him success. He will be a good president for the United States of America. I am very sure,” he added.

President Duterte further said that Trump invited him to visit New York and Washington DC.

As he mentioned the ASEAN Summit next year, President Duterte said that Trump will try his best to be here.

“He wants to attend the Summit and that would be great for our country,” President Duterte said. (PNA)CVL/LILIAN C. MELLEJOR/SSC