DFA appeals to public after leaked Trump, Duterte call transcript

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and US President-elect Donald Trump. (File photos from AFP)

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday refused to comment on a leaked transcript of a call between President Rodrigo Duterte and US President Donald Trump.

“Under Philippine law, there is criminal and civil liability attached to the hacking, unauthorized disclosure and use of illegally or inadvertently-obtained confidential government documents,” the DFA said in a statement.

The Washington Post on Wednesday published a copy of the said confidential transcript, with an article quoting Trump as calling North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a “madman with nuclear weapons.”

Trump also said Duterte was doing an “unbelievable job on the drug problem.”

READ: Trump praises Duterte’s ‘great job’ in Philippine drug war—reports

The DFA did not confirm or deny the veracity of the document.

“While we value the need for transparency and the people’s right to information, release of certain pieces of information, whether accurate or inaccurate, can affect national security and regional peace and stability,” it said. “As such, we appeal to the sense of responsibility and patriotism of all concerned.”

Instead, the DFA said Duterte and Trump “have a good and warm working relationship”

“And we are confident it will continue to be nurtured towards a positive direction for the benefit of the longstanding partnership,” the agency said. “We also reiterate our support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and encourage the parties to continuously engage in peaceful dialogue.”

Duterte has previously said that North Korea’s missile launches has been “extremely” worrying./rga

READ: Duterte says North Korea situation worrying, pleads for US prudence