Tillerson and Bishop call on Duterte in Malacañang

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gives a warm welcome to Commonwealth of Australia Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop who paid a courtesy call on the President at the Malacañan Palace on August 7, 2017. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO (PNA photo)

MANILA, Aug. 8 — President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in Malacañan Palace on Monday, August 7.

The two top foreign officials were in the country to attend the meetings in relation to the 50th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). United States and Australia are among the dialogue partners of the 10 members states of ASEAN.

At a press briefing following the back-to-back meetings, President Duterte said his discussion with the diplomats focused mainly on terrorism.

He added that the issue on human rights was tackled but only in passing.

“Mostly they have considerably toned down in human rights,” he said.

The President, however, refused to divulge other details about their meetings saying that most of the topics were confidential.

The President first met Bishop, who arrived at the Palace around 3:00 p.m. and was accompanied by Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely and other Australian officials.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was accompanied by US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and other US officials.

Philippine officials present during the courtesy call were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go.

After the courtesy call, the President presided over the regular Cabinet meeting in Malacañan.