Cayetano writes Obama: Give Duterte a chance.

Cayetano writes Obama: Give Duterte a chance.


Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has called on US President Barack Obama to give President Rodrigo Duterte a chance, claiming that the Philippine Chief Executive has been misjudged by some sectors.

In an open letter addressed to Obama, Cayetano said: "Does he (Duterte) not deserve to be judged on his record and his actions? On facts and not manipulated by statistics? On where he wants to bring the country rather than his sometimes politically incorrect words?"

Cayetano claimed that Duterte has been misjudged by some sectors based on the way he speaks, which he claimed was "aggravated by a misinformation campaign about the human rights situation in the country."
In the same letter, Cayetano said: "Can't we give the Philippines and President Duterte a chance?"
"Will you now allow us to lose hope and fail? Will the West deny us the 'Change we can believe in'?" he added.

Extrajudicial killings

Last month, the US expressed concern "about reports regarding extrajudicial killings of individuals suspected to have been involved in drug crimes," urging the Duterte administration to ensure that law-enforcement authorities abide by human rights norms.

Also in August, the US Embassy warned the Duterte administration that millions of dollars of military aid alloted to the Philippines were tied to adherence to the rule of law, due process, and respect for human rights.

"We are concerned by reports regarding extrajudicial killings of individuals suspected to have been involved in drug activity in the Philippines," it said.

"We strongly urge the Philippines to ensure its law enforcement efforts are consistent with its human rights obligations," it added
Responding to this, a Philippine foreign department statement sent to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it took note of the US views on the issue, but noted that the country was focused on the eradication of drugs.

"Nevertheless, while pursuing this objective, the Philippine government is committed to the rule of law, and the protection of human rights for all," it said.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), for its part, is looking at just 259 of the more than 2,000 killings since July 1, the first day Duterte stepped into office.

The White House last week also said Obama is expected to meet with Duterte on September 6, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos.

"We absolutely expect that the president will raise concerns about some of the recent statements from the president of the Philippines," White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes was quoted as saying in a Reuters report.

He was asked whether inflammatory remarks by Duterte about women, journalists, and others would be a topic of discussion.

He cleared, however, that there were important security issues to cover as well, particularly tensions over navigation in the South China Sea.

For his part, Duterte said that he is willing to discuss such matters, but Obama must listen to him first.
"If he wishes to talk about human rights, I ask that he tries to understand the problem first," he said.
"They must understand the problem first before we talk about human rights. I would insist, listen to me: this is what the problem is, then we can talk," he added. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/RSJ, GMA News