This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The Philippines cannot “forever be the little brown brothers of America”, the country’s top diplomat has said, making it clear the country will not accept foreign criticism for a deadly crackdown on drugs.

Speaking in Washington, foreign secretary Perfecto Yasay said that while his country still regards the US as a trusted ally, the Philippines wanted mutual respect.

Americans used the term ‘little brown brothers’ to refer to native Filipinos during the era of US colonial rule that ended in 1946.

'He's vulgar – but honest': Filipinos on Duterte's first 100 days in office Read more

The south-east Asian nation has for decades been seen by Washington as a dependable partner, especially against China’s expanding military reach in the region. American troops and ships are sent on regular rotations to the Philippines.

But the election of Rodrigo Duterte in May has soured the alliance, with the president’s first months in office dominated by a bloody crackdown on the drug trade that has left 3,526 drug dealers, and also addicts, dead since July 1.



Last week, Barack Obama cancelled a meeting with Duterte at a regional summit after the Filipino leader he was a “son of a whore”.

And on Thursday, a self-confessed former assassin testified that Duterte had personally ordered members of a death squad to kill criminals and opponents and even “finished off” a justice department employee with a submachine gun.

The government denied the allegations.

Yasay said on Thursday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies that his country would never condone unlawful killings.

“Extrajudicial killing has no place in our society,” he said. “We will always view the United States as an esteemed and trusted ally.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Perfecto Yasay speaks in Washington on Thursday.

But he added: “You do not go to the Philippines and say, ‘I’m going to give you something, I’m going to help you develop and I’m going to help you grow but these are the checklists that you must comply with. We will lecture you on human rights’.”

Beijing warns US to stay out of South China Sea dispute Read more

New figures released by the Philippine national police this week showed that 1,491 people had been killed during police operations and 2,035 people were murdered by vigilante groups since 1 July.

Duterte, a former prosecutor, has repeatedly said he will not go after civilians who kill drug dealers.

In the same time period, more than 16,500 “drug personalities” had been arrested and 710,961 people surrendered to the police, the vast majority of them drug users but also some considered “pushers”, authorities say. Ten police personnel have been killed.

During his trip, Yasay sought in part to reassure Washington, pointing to a defence cooperation agreement which gives the US access to five military bases. But he added that the two countries would not undertake joint patrols in disputed waters near the South China Sea, a policy of the previous administration.</s>Philippines is not 'little brown brother' of U.S. -foreign minister

WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Philippines is firmly committed to its alliance with the United States but will not be lectured on human rights and treated like a "little brown brother," the country's Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said on Thursday.

Speaking in Washington after recent remarks by the Philippines' outspoken new President Rodrigo Duterte that have strained relations with the United States, Manila's main ally, Yasay said some of Duterte's remarks had been misunderstood.

He said Duterte had explained that his call for the withdrawal of U.S. special forces from the southern Philippines was only a temporary measure to keep them out of harm's way while Philippine forces undertook an offensive against Abu Sayyaf militants.

Yasay also said Duterte's opposition to joint maritime patrols with the United States only concerned the Philippines' "exclusive economic zone", not joint patrols within 12 nautical miles.

The latter patrols, aimed at preserving the territorial integrity of the Philippines, "must continue because this is our commitment to the United States," Yasay said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.

The Philippines and the United States share concern about China's pursuit of broad territorial claims in the South China Sea, which overlap with the claims of Manila and other neighbors. Washington and Manila agreed earlier this year on joint patrols in the area.

The minister rejected criticism of Duterte's war on drugs, in which thousands have been killed, and said relations with Washington should be based on mutual respect.

"I am asking our American friends, American leaders, to look at our aspirations," he said. "We cannot forever be the little brown brothers of America. ... We have to develop, we have to grow and become the big brother of our own people.

"You (have to) manage it correctly. You do not go to the Philippines and say 'I am going to give you something; I am going to help you grow, but this is the check list you must comply with - we will lecture you on human rights'."

Yasay stressed that Duterte was "firmly committed to keep and respect alliances, including that with the United States."

He said Manila was "not at this point in time" prepared to sit down and discuss its territorial disputes with China bilaterally, given that the two sides differed on what the framework for any such discussions should be. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by James Dalgleish)</s>Philippines is not 'little brown brother' of U.S. -foreign minister

WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Philippines is firmly committed to its alliance with the United States but will not be lectured on human rights and treated like a "little brown brother," the country's Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said on Thursday.

Speaking in Washington after recent remarks by the Philippines' outspoken new President Rodrigo Duterte that have strained relations with the United States, Manila's main ally, Yasay said some of Duterte's remarks had been misunderstood.

He said Duterte had explained that his call for the withdrawal of U.S. special forces from the southern Philippines was only a temporary measure to keep them out of harm's way while Philippine forces undertook an offensive against Abu Sayyaf militants.

Yasay also said Duterte's opposition to joint maritime patrols with the United States concerned the Philippines' "exclusive economic zone," not joint patrols within 12 nautical miles of its coast.

The latter patrols, aimed at preserving the territorial integrity of the Philippines, "must continue, because this is our commitment to the United States," Yasay said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.

The Philippines and the United States share concerns about China's pursuit of broad claims in the South China Sea, which overlap with those of Manila and other neighbors.

Washington and Manila agreed earlier this year on joint patrols in the South China Sea and a Pentagon spokesman said three had been conducted from March until July.

Yasay rejected criticism of Duterte's war on drugs, in which thousands have been killed, saying that Philippines would never condone illegal killings, and said relations with Washington should be based on mutual respect.

"I am asking our American friends, American leaders, to look at our aspirations," he said. "We cannot forever be the little brown brothers of America. ... We have to develop, we have to grow and become the big brother of our own people.

"You (have to) manage it correctly. You do not go to the Philippines and say 'I am going to give you something, I am going to help you grow, but this is the check list you must comply with - we will lecture you on human rights'."

Yasay stressed that Duterte was "firmly committed to keep and respect alliances, including that with the United States."

He said Manila was "not at this point in time" prepared to sit down and discuss its territorial disputes with China bilaterally, given that the two sides differed on what the framework for any such discussions should be.

Duterte's abrasive and sometimes contradictory comments, including calling President Obama a "son of a bitch," have caused anxiety in Washington, where the Philippines has been seen as an important ally in standing up to China in Asia.

Yasay did not address testimony in the Philippines senate earlier in the day from a self-confessed hit man who said Duterte issued assassination orders while mayor of a city where activists say hundreds of summary executions took place.

Asked to comment on this testimony, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, Anna Richey-Allen, reiterated past comments that it was "deeply concerned" by reports of extrajudicial killings "by or at the behest of government authorities."

"We strongly urge the Philippines to ensure its law enforcement efforts comply with its human rights obligations," she said. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by James Dalgleish)</s>Philippines Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay made the comments after a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington Thursday, during which he described the US relationship with the Philippines as cooperative and symbiotic.

"We will always view the United States as an esteemed and trusted ally with whom we share not just a common history and shared values, but a common destiny as well."

The "little brown brothers" comment came during a Q+A session.

Here's what he said:</s>Philippines Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay made the comments after a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington Thursday, during which he described the US relationship with the Philippines as cooperative and symbiotic.

"We will always view the United States as an esteemed and trusted ally with whom we share not just a common history and shared values, but a common destiny as well."

The "little brown brothers" comment came during a Q+A session.

The phrase is used in the Philippines to refer to people that are trying to act like they're American. It's a bit jocular with a slight derogatory insinuation.</s>DEFENDING President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs right in the US capital, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. called on the United States to stop lecturing the Philippines on human rights, saying Filipinos “cannot forever be the little brown brothers of America.”

“At one point in time, we have to make sure … we have to grow and become the big brother of our own people, of the next generation of Filipinos,” Yasay said in a forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Thursday.

The United States has expressed alarm over the rising deaths of suspects in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, which has frayed relations between Manila and Washington.

Early this month, Duterte launched an expletive-laden tirade against the US and US President Barack Obama for criticizing the anti-drug campaign, forcing the White House to cancel a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Laos.

In Laos Duterte brought up atrocities committed by the US army against Moros in Sulu during the pacification campaign by American colonizers a century ago.

Duterte has since proclaimed that the Philippines would adopt an independent foreign policy, and announced plans to get military equipment from China and Russia.

He had also called for the withdrawal of US troops in Mindanao, only to take it back later.

In Washington, Yasay said the US should not tie its aid to certain conditions.

“You do not go to the Philippines and say ‘I am going to give you something, I am going to help you develop. I am going to help you grow, but these are the checklists that you must comply with. We will lecture you on human rights,”” Yasay said.

Yasay said the Philippines respects human rights, and called on the US to understand that each country pursues its national interest.

“We would like to assure you that even before America became [our]colonial power … the Filipinos had already fully understood the sanctity of human life, the dignity of human life, the respect of certain inalienable rights,” he explained.

Yasay reiterated that Manila won’t cut ties with Washington, and invited American companies to set up more businesses in the Philippines

“Our alliance based on mutual trust and respect will continue to contribute to the peaceful and stable regions that both of our countries have committed to our people,” he said.

“We can do more. The Philippines and the US are natural business partners because of shared values and common interests,” he added.</s>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Philippines' top diplomat said Thursday it still regards the U.S. as a trusted ally but will not accept lectures on human rights as a condition for receiving American help.

Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said, "We cannot ... forever be the little brown brothers of America," as he appealed for mutual respect between the allied nations.

Yasay sought to reassure an audience at a Washington think tank about Manila's commitment to positive relations with the United States, its former colonial power.

His address came amid strains in the relationship because of recent remarks by the Southeast Asian nation's new president, Rodrigo Duterte, who has waged a bloody war on the drug trade that has been criticized by the U.S. More than 3,000 suspected drug users and dealers have been killed since he assumed the presidency in June.

Last week, President Barack Obama canceled a formal meeting with Duterte at a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders after he used the phrase "son of a bitch" in warning that he wouldn't accept lectures from Obama on human rights.

Yasay said the Philippine government would never condone unlawful killings. He said the Philippines shared the U.S. goal for full respect of human rights. He said Filipinos had fully understood about the sanctity of human life since before it was a U.S. colony and that was at the core of its struggle for independence.

"You do not go to the Philippines and say, 'I'm going to give you something, I'm going to help you develop and I'm going to help you grow but these are the checklist(s) that you must comply with. We will lecture you on human rights'," he told the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Yasay did not comment on testimony Thursday by a former Filipino militiaman before the Philippine Senate that Duterte, when he was still a city mayor, ordered him and other members of a liquidation squad to kill criminals and opponents in gangland-style assaults that left about 1,000 dead.

Yasay also sought to tamp down U.S. concern about statements from Duterte in the past week that suggested an intent to scale back in the U.S.-Philippine security alliance.

He said the Philippines is committed to a defense cooperation agreement signed by the previous government that will give the U.S. access to five Philippine military bases.

And while Duterte has taken steps to repair relations with China, Yasay also said Manila will only discuss their territorial dispute in the South China Sea with Beijing on the basis of a recent international tribunal ruling, supported by Washington. The tribunal found in Manila's favor and invalidated the legal basis of China's expansive claims.

But Yasay confirmed the Philippines does not want to undertake joint patrols with the U.S. beyond its territorial waters in disputed waters near the South China Sea — a step taken by the last government.</s>This past Monday, in response to being called an obscenity, President Obama canceled his scheduled meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. Obama was originally planned to meet with Duterte in Laos after attending the G20 summit in China. President Duterte had previously threatened to curse out Obama if he brought up the roughly 2,000 drug-related killings by police that have happened under his watch since assuming office in late June.

On Monday, Duterte stated, “Who does [Obama] think he is? I am no American puppet. I am the president of a sovereign country and I am not answerable to anyone except the Filipino people. Son of a bitch, I will swear at you.”

President Duterte came into office with the goal of crack-ing down on the serious drug trafficking problem that the Philippines faces, and heavily campaigned on this vow. There was popular support for his campaign, but with the number of killings rising steadily since he took office, human rights groups, the United States, and the United Nations have taken notice.

On Monday, when Obama first heard of the obscenity said against him, he shrugged it off and said it was another one of his “colorful statements,” calling him “a colorful guy” at the G20 summit in China. He also called the Philippines a close “friend and ally” of the United States.

When Obama first scheduled the meeting, he said that he would not avoid discussing the “international norms” of due process rights in regard to the police killings. “We recognize the significant burden the drug trade plays in the Philippines and around the world… [But] we will always assert the need to have due process and engage the fight against drugs that is consistent with basic international norms. Undoubtedly, if and when we have a meeting, this is going to be something that’s brought up. My expectation, my hope, is that it could be dealt with constructively.”

Before canceling the meeting, Obama suggested that in order for it not to be canceled, Duterte would have to agree to seriously discussing the issue. “I’m just going to make an assessment,” Obama said. However, later on Monday, Ned Price, a spokes-man for the National Security Council, announced that the meeting between Obama and Duterte had been canceled. Instead, Obama had scheduled to meet with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

On Tuesday, President Duterte released a statement voicing his regret for his obscene statements. “We look for-ward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions,” read the statement. The statement also stated that the “son of a bitch” comment was actually directed at the journalist that posed the question provoking Duterte’s statements.

Throughout his presidency, Obama has worked on building the United States’ relationship with the Philippines. Duterte’s statement said that the “meet-ing has been mutually agreed upon to be moved to a later date.”
In response to American criticism of the Duterte regime, Filipino foreign secretary Perfecto Yasay says the Philippines cannot remain as the "little brown brother" of the United States.