Philippines says Trump invited Duterte to White House

U.S. President Donald Trump has calledPhilippine leader Rodrigo Duterte and expressed Washington'scommitment to their treaty alliance and his interest in developing"a warmworking relationship," a Filipino official said Sunday.

Dutertespokesman Ernie Abella said Trump mentioned he waslooking forward to visiting the Philippines in November to attend anEast Asia summit that Duterte will host with several world leadersand that Trump invited Duterte to visit the White House.

The discussion that transpired between the presidents was warm.- ErnieAbella, spokesman for Rodrigo Duterte

"The discussion that transpired between the presidents was warm,with President Trump expressing his understanding and appreciationof the challenges facing the Philippine president, especially on thematter of dangerous drugs," Abella said in a statement.

A White House statement described late Saturday's call as "very friendly" and said the U.S.-Philippine alliance "is now heading in a very positive direction."

White House spokesman urges friendlier ties

Trump's chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said the friendlier ties are needed despite concerns about Duterte's human rights record, which includes extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers and users as part of the government's drug war. Priebus cited the military threat of North Korea.

"The purpose of this call is all about North Korea," Priebus told ABC's This Weekon Sunday. "It doesn't mean that human rights don't matter."

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Duterte hastaken a friendlier attitude with Trump compared to the antagonistic stance he had toward President Barack Obama, who he once told to "go to hell" forcriticizing the Philippine leader's bloody anti-drug crackdown, which has leftthousands of suspects deadin extrajudicial killings.

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During Obama's final months in office, the Philippine presidentmoved to build closer economic ties with China and Russia whilerepeatedly threatening to end his nation's long-standing militaryalliance with the U.S.

Abella said without elaborating that concern over North Koreaalso came up in Trump's talk with Duterte.

North Korea main concern

Priebus indicated that the issue was Trump's primary concern, citing a North Korean threat "so serious" that it will require cooperation from Asian countries in the region. "So if something does happen in North Korea, ... we have everyone in line backing up a plan of action that may need to be put together with our partners in the area," he said.

Duterte suggested in a news conference Saturday that the Trumpadministration should back away from an intensifying standoff withNorth Korea, not in surrenderbut to avoid risking a nuclearholocaust that could smother Asia.

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"It would be good for America to just restrain a little bit, andif I were President Trump, I'll just back out,' Duterte said.

Washington, he said, should not play into the provocations of NorthKorean leader Kim Jong-un.

"It behooves upon America, who wields the biggest stick, just toreally be prudent and patient. We know that we are playing withsomebody who relishes letting go of his missiles and everything,"Duterte said.

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