The U Street/Shaw and 14th Street area has fast been turned into an upscale neighborhood in recent years, with many new restaurants and shops opening and new apartment construction

The opposition camp, however, has criticized Abe's move to call a snap election, with some accusing him of merely trying to escape from the influence-peddling scandals he is currently implicated in and engineering his stay in power

The US government, lawmakers and pundits have generally expressed negative views of Duterte since he took office last June

His tough rhetoric on the US and softened rhetoric on China, especially compared with his predecessor Aquino III, has worried many in the US

Since becoming Philippines president in June 2016, Rodrigo Duterte has refused to be used by the US to advance its strategy