MANILA — There is no effort by the United States to undermine the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, a diplomat of the United States said on Friday.
In a media roundtable discussion with reporters from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao during the culmination of the 10th US Embassy Seminar for Regional Media on Human Rights Reporting in Pasay City, US Ambassador Sung Kim assured that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has no plot to assassinate President Duterte.
“I can assure you with great confidence and conviction that there is actually no effort in the US government, including the CIA, to come up with some effort to undermine President Duterte’s administration,” Kim said.
In fact, he said, the two countries’ military cooperation has never been stronger, pointing out the US initiative to work closely with government forces in combatting human trafficking, piracy, and terrorism.
“We have a very strong cooperation with all the security agencies and it will continue,” the US envoy added.
The President’s recent statement hinting at US interference with the country’s internal affairs, Kim said, will not affect the military cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries.
Duterte earlier claimed that the CIA wanted him dead, as he also alleged that other countries like Russia, China, Israel, and Indonesia are monitoring him.
The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines said they have no information on the alleged CIA plot against the President. (Divina Suson/PNA)
