The main issue is that the US State Department is VERY different in it's methods than it was back during that time - during the Cold War and Indochina wars. Back then there were LOTS of black ops going on, and a much more hard-lined military approach to relations with Asian countries. In modern times, however, it is much different. Most State Department people are liberal-leaning, and are much more - I would say TOO much more - diplomatically soft with the handful of Asian countries who have a track record of EXTREME human right violations. A perfect example of this is the current political crisis in Cambodia :

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2017/09/15/why-cambodias-ex-khmer-rouge-leader-must-flame-america/#73da05ff429e

where the fascist prime minister - with the backing of China - is now moving against US interests (mainly humantarian). They've been soft-handling this goon for decades, turning the other cheek, and now everyone in the international media, and the US government is so shocked that he is shutting down the main western newspapers, asking the Peace Corps (and other humanitarian organizations), etc. to leave. The current crisis in Cambodia, and much of the other problems in the region, are, in my opinion, the result of not taking a harder stance against the rampant corruption and abysmal human rights records of these countries. Sure, it's great to take advantage of comparative advantage through cheaper labor costs, but at what ULTIMATE cost? Duterte is a nationalist like Trump, and they have a fondness for each other - which they have expressed openly. So, in terms of you potentially going back there, you may want to actually just consider contacting people in the state department and explain the situation, and ask what they think. In other words, I don't think that the mood is such that you will have serious issues from the US government - although I could be wrong, as I don't know the exact nature of the situation, and it ALREADY sounds UBER-strange. However, as far as the response on the Philipines side, I would exercise extreme due caution when dealing on ANY sort of political level with ANY of the countries in the Asian region right now. This is just my opinion through experience living in this region, as well as on the information you have provided in this post. Hope this helps...