Philippines' Duterte seeks to exit military pact as US touts ‘strong’ ties

Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte. - Reuters

MANILA (Bloomberg): President Rodrigo Duterte plans to order the termination of a longstanding military pact with the US, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported, though the US State Department reiterated that relations between the nations remain strong.

The Inquirer report, citing presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, follows Duterte's threat in January to end the agreement after Washington cancelled a visa for a senator who used to lead his drug war.