Philippine Drills Open in Uncertainty: Are They the Last?

USA and Philippine marines and sailors kicked off on Tuesday this year’s joint military exercises codenamed PHIBLEX 33 in the Philippines’ main Luzon island and Palawan.

Duterte also said last week that the maneuvers would be the last of his term, which began in June.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday he had received support from Russian Federation and China when he complained to them about the United States, in another broadside that could test his increasingly fragile alliance with Washington. However, Duterte challenged all of them and criticized them for supporting drug abuse.

Some were killed during shootouts with local police when suspects allegedly resisted arrest.

U.S. officials have slammed Duterte, especially after he compared himself to Hitler.

The president was quick to apologize for his remarks.

“If you don’t want to sell arms, I’ll go to Russian Federation”.

Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said it was baffling why anyone would want to compare themselves to “one of the largest mass murderers in human history”.

The president is seeking a more “independent” foreign policy by fanning out diplomacy to China and Russia, Baker said. “If you Americans are angry with me, then I am also angry with you”. “[The names he called President Obama] are names that you wouldn’t want to repeat to your children”.

“Drug abuse is a serious issue”, Mr. Lauder said in a statement issued from Jerusalem, where he was attending the funeral of the former Israeli leader Shimon Peres. Then addressing the European Union, he said: “Better choose purgatory, hell is filled up”. Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said Tuesday in a briefing that “we have shared values with the Philippines people” and that the “enduring relationship is important”.

He cited United States recovery efforts after natural disasters as an example of the close ties between the two nations. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said there has been no communication from the Philippines about making changes in that relationship. This was after reports said Obama would confront him about his anti-illegal drugs campaign, particularly the alleged summary killings of drug pushers being linked to the campaign. State Department spokesman Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters: “I’d also note that we’ll live up to our commitments and we’ll expect them to live up to theirs”.

The President of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, said Duterte’s remarks were “revolting” and demanded that he retract them and apologise.

“In English, Duterte added: “I would like to make it now, here and now, that there was never an intention on my part to derogate the memories of six million Jews murdered by the Germans”.

The threat to end the Phillipines-U.S.

You have left for this month.

“There is no law at all which says I can not threaten criminals as mayor or even as president”.

The Philippines, a former USA colony, has for decades had close military ties to the United States.

First Duterte announced USA troops would be expelled from their base in Mindanao, where they have been helping combat insurgents.

Washington has repeatedly expressed concerns about the recent surge in drug-related extrajudicial killings. The anti-drug campaign has been reprehensible, and the criticism deserved.

What could this mean for U.S. -Philippines relations?

Take the Philippines for example, a long-term USA ally since WWII.

Buena Bernal reported and wrote from Manila, and Holly Yan wrote from Atlanta.