AFTER initial reports that indicated Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called U.S. President Barack Obama a string of obscenities – including “son of a b****” – transcripts from that press conference reveal that he was actually referring to a reporter, not Obama.
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Obama said that he wanted wait until he and Duterte could have “constructive, productive conversations”. But the Filipino leader lashed out when asked by reporters how he would respond if Obama asked about human rights violations committed in his fearsome war on drugs gangs. Speaking to reporters, Carter also described the Philippines’ new defense minister, Delfin Lorenzana, as someone who was “very knowledgeable about all the things that we do together”. “Do not just throw questions”, he said, finishing by declaring, “Putang ina, I will swear at you in that forum” – a Tagalog phrase for “son of a b–h”.
“Iyong mga kolumnista diyan na ‘wait until he meets, ‘ who is he?”
Duterte made the intemperate remarks Monday before flying to Laos.
“If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans”.
“You must be respectful”.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte used some explicit language in a vow to revenge a bombing that left 15 people dead, threatening to eat those responsible alive.
Presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said the throbbing headache would have made it hard for Duterte to concentrate amid the overwhelming barrage of summitry. Reportedly, the result has been at least 2,400 deaths of alleged drug users and dealers.
A White House official said the exchange “consisted of pleasantries between the two”.
Speaking at a Q&A session with young leaders in Laos, Obama said he thinks focus on the importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) between the US and 11 other countries will resume after the election. Shortly before he left office, Aquino agreed to allow USA forces access to five Philippine military bases – opening the way to what would be the most significant American military deployment in the Southeast Asian nation since the US was forced to close its own military bases there a quarter-century ago. Duterte and Obama were to join a much-anticipated formal dinner with the ASEAN state leaders. Mr. Duterte’s comments contributed to concerns over United States interest rates, elevated valuations and overseas fund withdrawals, according to Jonathan L. Ravelas, chief market strategist at BDO Unibank, Inc., the largest Philippine bank.
“I do not want to quarrel with him”.
Obama and Duterte shook hands and talked briefly before attending the dinner to conclude the second day of the leaders’ summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) in Vientiane, Laos.
After cursing at the president, Duterte expressed a degree of regret, stating that he did not intend his comments as a “personal attack on the USA president”. “And that’s something that we discussed with officials from the government of the Philippines last night”. All of the attention, frankly, was on those comments and, therefore, not on the very substantive agenda that we have with the Philippines. He later expressed regret for offending Obama.
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While the nasty spat is not yet likely to damage the enduring relationship between the United States and the Philippines, and the countries’ strengthening military cooperation in the shadow of China’s rise, there is reason for Washington to be concerned. In an age of yearning and protecting every bit of our rights, the call issued by the leader of a sovereign nation by killing lakhs of law breakers for cleaning up the rotten system of his country, does not hold good both in spirit and in reality.
