After his animosity toward UP President Barack Obama, President Duterte considers the incoming American leader a “friend.”

Duterte said yesterday that US president-elect Donald Trump invited him to have coffee when they spoke by phone last week.

“When you come to Washington and New York, look me up. Let’s have coffee,” Duterte quoted Trump as saying.

Duterte said Trump wants to improve the strained ties between the Philippines and the US under his watch.

“Here comes Trump, we had a talk. He said: ‘Mister President, good evening, oh President Duterte. We should fix our bad relations. We should set something good here. You’re doing great,’ ” Duterte said during an event at Malacañang marking the 12th anniversary of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

 “Trump, at least, he’s now my friend,” the President said.

He said Trump had expressed support for his intensified campaign against drugs.

“I know you’re worried about Americans criticizing you. Go ahead,” the President quoted Trump as saying.

Duterte said Trump had also narrated to him how he won the US presidential race even if the mainstream media was against him.    – Alexis Romero