By Pia Lee-Brago
MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. and United States Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris Jr. have affirmed the strong relations between the Philippines and the US even if President Duterte has been cool to Washington.
Duterte has slammed the US for criticizing his bloody anti-drug war due to reported human rights violations and expressed preference to work closely with Beijing rather than Washington during the time of former US president Barack Obama.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday the US would continue to work constructively and productively with the Philippines despite persistent human rights concerns under the Duterte administration.
The DFA said Yasay met Harris at the USPACOM headquarters in Camp Smith in Hawaii on Friday.
The DFA also quoted Harris as saying they continue to work with the Philippine military in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, counter-terrorism and transnational crime operations.
Read the full story at The Philippine Star