Australia defends spy chief after ‘fist bump’ photo op with Philippine leader Duterte
The president’s clenched pose was used throughout his 2016 presidential campaign during which he promised to use deadly force to wipe out crime and drugs
Australia on Thursday defended its most senior intelligence chief after he was pictured posing with a clenched fist alongside Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, an image rights groups said undermines criticism of Duterte’s war on drugs.
Australia’s director general of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service Nick Warner met Duterte in Manila on Tuesday, where he was photographed duplicating Duterte’s clenched fist pose.
The president’s “fist bump” pose was used throughout his 2016 presidential campaign during which he promised to use deadly force to wipe out crime and drugs.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Warner was complying with a request from Duterte and the image did not weaken Canberra’s criticism of Duterte’s war on drugs.
Duterte’s ferocious 14-month-old war on drugs has seen thousands of Filipinos killed, many in what critics say are suspicious circumstances.
