U.S. withholds aid from Philippines

WASHINGTON -- The United States said Thursday it is withholding a major aid package to the Philippines and is troubled by the nation's leader's boast he used to drive around looking for criminals to kill.

It's the latest sign of strain in U.S.-Philippine relations since President Rodrigo Duterte launched a crackdown on illegal drugs that has led to thousands of deaths in police gunbattles.

The U.S.-government aid agency, the Millennium Challenge Corp., said its board this week deferred a vote on a renewal of development assistance package for the Philippines, "subject to a further review of concerns around rule of law and civil liberties."