Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao issued staunch support for Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday after the Asian strongman clashed with U.S. leader Barack Obama over the country s bloody crime crackdown.
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Aside from comments made about his fashion sense, the firebrand Philippine leader seemed to make good on his pre-summit comments aimed at US President Barack Obama.
“On that narrow issue, we do want to make sure the partnership we have is consistent with worldwide norms and rule of law”.
Duterte issued a statement expressing his “regret” over the issue but while in Jakarta, he denied that he called Obama “son of a bitch”.
Mr Obama’s remarks came at the end of a gruelling nine-day trip that took him to Laos and China following U.S. stops in Nevada, Hawaii and Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
“We want to partner with the Philippines on the particular issue of narco traffickers which is a serious problem in the Philippines, it is a serious problem in the USA and around the world”, said Obama.
The two leaders were to meet again Thursday at a joint meeting between Southeast Asian leaders, Obama, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but Duterte did not attend.
On a visit to Indonesia, Duterte told the Filipino community there that he told Obama: “President Obama, I’m President Duterte”.
“When he got back to the meeting for the closing rites, Obama had already left”, he told reporters in Vientiane. Who is he? You must be respectful. Do not just throw questions.
“I said that, but not in relation to Obama, I’m not fighting with America”.
Duterte has said the Philippines is in danger of becoming a “narco state”, and eliminating drugs in society is the top priority of his administration. Duterte has encouraged citizens in Philippines to bring justice to drug peddlers in the nation as a part of his crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users.
He said his favorite Filipino cuss word-putang ina-was lost in translation.
He said he told the leaders, “This is human rights, what do you intend to do?” and “Human rights violations whether committed by Moses or Abraham, is still violation of human rights”.
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Duterte also thanked China for its help in the Philippines’ war against illicit drugs.
