<p>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.</p><p>In the meeting, Duterte told Tillerson, “I’m your humble friend,” according to reports,</a> 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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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</p><br />
