US envoy summoned after Duterte named in threat report
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s top aide has summoned the U.S. ambassador to discuss a global threat assessment by American intelligence agencies that mentioned Duterte along with dangers facing democracy in Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Friday that Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea discussed the U.S. intelligence community’s Worldwide Threat Assessment report with U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim on Thursday.
Medialdea also asked U.S.-based Philippine diplomats to explain to Washington steps taken by Duterte to promote economic development and ensure public security while “respecting at all times the rule of law,” Roque said.
The U.S. Embassy said the discussion “focused on the references to the Philippines in the report, including clarifying that the information about the Philippines had been previously reported by media sources.”