Rights groups have called on Trump to end his Asian journey with a strong statement against Duterte's drugs war, which has seen police and suspected vigilantes kill thousands of people. "I'm sure he will not take it up," Duterte said on Sunday when asked whether he expected Trump to raise the issue of alleged extra-judicial killings in the drugs war. Former US president Barack Obama was one of many prominent critics of Duterte's handling of the drugs war. But Trump has appeared to be a fan of Duterte, telling him in a telephone call in April that he was doing a "great job". Duterte is hosting the world leaders because the Philippines holds the rotating chair of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 13, 2017 03:22 UTC