Duterte Tells Tillerson: 'I'm Your Humble Friend'

On Monday, August 7, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who last year oversaw a brutal anti-drug campaign.In the meeting, Duterte told Tillerson, “I’m your humble friend,” according to reports, marking a stark contrast from previous statements made to former US President Barack Obama. The US is assisting the Philippine government in fighting militants associated with Islamic State in the country’s south.Tillerson’s visit to the region comes after North Korea tested two long-range missiles in July, and the UN Security Council passed a new round of sanctions on the country.In October 2016, Duterte told Obama to “go to hell” after Obama criticized the killing of thousands of suspected drug users in the Philippines. Credit: US Department of State via Storyful