Duterte meets US State Secretary Mike Pompeo

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte met last night with United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo upon the latter’s arrival from Hanoi, Vietnam.

Details of the meeting at Villamor Airbase were not immediately available, but Palace officials earlier raised the possibility that the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) might be discussed.

Before the meeting, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said there is a need to review the MDT to make it responsive to recent developments. He noted that the US Congress’ nod is needed before US forces can be sent to help the Philippines.

According to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, Pompeo was set to update the President on developments in the nuclear summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean President Kim Jong-un.

The summit broke down after the US refused North Korean demands to end sanctions.

North Korea is the subject of sanctions from the United Nations and the US. The UN has blocked some imports and exports and frozen the assets of persons connected with North Korea’s nuclear program, while the US targets more individuals.

Also present at the meeting were Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Assistant Secretary Lumen Esleta of the Office of American Affairs and Duterte’s former aide Christopher Go.

Pompeo was accompanied by Ambassador Sung Kim, Senior Bureau Official Patrick Murphy and State Department Deputy Spokesman Robert Palladino.