The United States will maintain its "long-standing friendship" with the Philippines

U.S. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson said that the country will maintain its "long-standing friendship" with the Philippines, despite the violent anti-drug campaign leader Rodrigo Duterte.

During the confirmation hearing of the Senate Committee on foreign relations, Senator Marco Rubio announced Tillerson that the killings in the Philippines "contributes to the violation of human rights, and we should be concerned about." Tillerson said that additional "facts from the ground" before commenting.

As Duterte came to power in June, he led a bloody so-called "war on drugs" in which he encouraged police officers and vigilantes to shoot dealers and drug users without trial. More than 6 thousand people were killed, including 6-year-old boy who was shot in her sleep last month.

Human rights activists have condemned the campaign, and the Obama administration. However, Duterte said last month that the President-elect Donald trump said about the drug war that he was "in the right direction." Since coming to power, Duterte wanted to break off relations with the United States - at one point claiming the conclusion of a military and economic "separation" - but then he announced that he can work with US, when the head is trump. Despite the surge in violence, Duterte popular in the Philippines, his approval rating is over 70% reported at the end of last month. On Wednesday, he again promised the diplomats that it will continue until the end of the fight against drugs, corruption and crime as part of a "sacred" promises, according to CNN.

sections: Politics, World News, Accidents