[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’US solon: Ban Duterte from White House ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – A member of the United States Congress has called for the banning of President Rodrigo Duterte from the White House if he gets an invitation from President Donald Trump.
Massachusetts’ Rep. Jim McGovern said during the Tom Lanston Commission’s hearing on Duterte’s war on drugs that he would lead a protest against the Philippine president for alleged human rights violations.
“President Duterte by all accounts seems to not have a high regard for human rights,” said McGovern in his opening statement during the hearing on July 20.
Added the US Congress human rights commission co-chair, “No other country comes to mind where people are assassinated in the streets in the name of fighting drugs and leaders brag about it as a good thing.”
A few months ago, Trump invited Duterte to visit the White House during a call. The American President praised his Philippine counterpart’s war on drugs.
“I certainly believe, very strongly, that a man with the human rights record of President Duterte should not be invited to the White House, and if he comes I will lead the protest,” said McGovern.
The US congressman also said reports of extrajudicial killings raise questions about how the US should balance its concerns for protecting human rights and the rule of law with its desire to maintain bilateral alliance and continue to pursue other shared goals.
“We ought to be on the side of advocating for human rights, not explaining them away,” said McGovern.
Duterte has badly-managed the country for declaring martial law in Mindanao, he added.
The US, a long-standing Philippine ally, has been keeping an eye on Duterte’s war on drugs, with some American senators proposing to restrict US arms exports to the Philippines because of reported human rights abuses.
Duterte has, meanwhile, attacked the US over its criticism of his antidrug campaign, vowing to pursue an “independent foreign policy” that shifts partnerships with non-traditional allies such as China and Russia./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
