Trump says ‘Filipinos don’t have drug problem because they kill dealers’ — report

MANILA, Philippines — United States President President Donald Trump often talks about his desire to execute drug dealers, even commenting on the situation in the Philippines where suspected drug personalities are killed, a US news outlet reported.

The Axios report, citing five sources who have spoken to Trump about the topic, said that the US leader seems to admire the drug policies of China and the Philippines.

“He (Trump) often jokes about killing drug dealers... He’ll say, ‘You know the Chinese and Filipinos don’t have drug problem. They just kill them,’” a senior administration official told Axios.

READ: Duterte's drug war challenged Philippines-US ties, says US admiral

During their meeting in Manila in November last year, Trump appeared “sympathetic” when President Rodrigo Duterte discussed the drug problem in the Philippines, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Trump had earlier congratulated Duterte for his administration’s crackdown against illegal drugs.

“Many countries have the problem, we have a problem, but what a great job you are doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that,” Trump told Duterte.

READ: Duterte calling media 'spies' gets chuckles from Trump

Individuals and organizations both at home and abroad have criticized Duterte for his ferocious “war on drugs” which has claimed over 12,000 lives, according to human rights watchdogs.

The government, however, dispute these numbers and counts a little over 4,000 “drug personalities” killed in police operations.

READ: White House, Palace issue contrasting accounts of Duterte-Trump talks

The report also noted that Trump also lauds Singapore’s mandatory death penalty for drug traffickers.

“He (Trump) says, ‘When I ask the prime minister of Singapore do they have a drug problem [the prime minister replies,] ‘No. Death penalty,’” a source told Axios.

According to the report, Trump believes that a softer approach to drug reform is ineffective in the United States.

But White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway, who is leading the administration’s drug policy office, told Axios that Trump is talking about high-volume dealers who are killing thousands of people.