DHAKA: 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.

‘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.

Trump’s seven-minute chat on Friday with the Philippine president follows months of uncertainty about one of Washington’s most important Asian alliances, stoked by Duterte’s hostility towards President Barack Obama and repeated threats to sever decades-old defense ties.

Duterte’s anger was unleashed following Obama’s concerns about possible human rights abuses in his war on drugs, during which more than 2,000 people have been killed, reports the Aljazeera.

The Philippine leader said Trump was ‘sensitive’ and understanding about his crackdown and was encouraged by what he interpreted as Trump's indication he would not interfere.

“He understood the way we are handling it ... I supposed that what he really wanted to say was that we would be the last to interfere in the affairs of your own country.”

He added “We are doing it as a sovereign nation, the right way. And he wishes us well. And I said that, well, we assured him of our ties with America.”

His special adviser, Christopher Go, had earlier said in a text message to media that Trump had invited Duterte to visit the White House next year.

There appeared to be confusion, however. Duterte mentioned an invite to Washington and New York, and that Trump asked him to notify him of his presence “if I am around”.

A statement issued by Trump’s transition team made no mention of that. It said the two men “noted the long history of friendship” between their countries and would work closely on "matters of shared interest and concern".

Duterte made waves when he visited China in October and announced his ‘separation’ from the US.

BDST: 1636 HRS, DEC 03, 2016
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