DAVAO CITY”•President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he was not keen on appointing an ambassador to the United States following its criticism of his war on illegal drugs, which has killed more than 6,000 drug pushers and users.
“We don’t have an ambassador going there. I don’t feel like sending one,” Duterte said in a speech here.
He had previously asked Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, presidential protocol chief Marciano Paynor, and columnist Jose Manuel Romualdez to take over the Washington-based post but all three declined”•although Romualdez will remain Special Envoy to Washington.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. is headed by Chargé d’Affaires Patrick Chuasoto.
In his speech, Duterte repeatedly denied the police involvement in the thousands of deaths that have resulted from his war on illegal drugs.
He had earlier said he would not help the undocumented Filipinos in the US who will be deported as a result of President Donald Trump’s stricter immigration policies.
“If you are not allowed to stay there, get out,” Duterte said.
“If you get caught there and deported, I will not lift a finger.”