MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night met with American actor Steven Seagal at the Malacañang Palace.

Duterte shared with Seagal his "strong stance against illegal drugs" and that "movies are a reflection of life," Malacañang said in a statement.

Seagal is reportedly in the country to scout a location for the sequel of 1988 film "Above the Law." The 80s film featured the story of a cop (Seagal) whose "routine drug-trafficking investigation leads to an international conspiracy."

Duterte also told Seagal, who holds black belts in multiple martial arts disciplines, that he used to take karate lessons.

Aside from Seagal, Duterte also met with artist Freddie Luna Cruz, great-grandson of national artist Juan Luna.

Cruz presented a portrait of the President which he painted last year as Duterte assumed presidency.