Duterte, who won the presidency earlier this year on his anti-drugs message, has stayed relentless in his bid to keep the Philippines narcotics-free, oftentimes lashing out and using offensive language against his detractors.
Advertisement
“He added that “.I said that, but not in relation to Obama…
On Tuesday, Duterte expressed regret over the remarks, but the damage was done.
He also repeated his stand that he is only accountable to the people of the Philippines and will continue his tough stance on crime, despite criticisms on his human rights record over widespread vigilante and extrajudicial killings since he became president. Obama then decided that in light of Duterte’s comments, the two probably couldn’t have a “productive” discussion during his final presidential trip to Asia and canceled the meeting.
The setting up of the Regional Digital Counter-Messaging Communications Centre was proposed by Najib at the Leaders’ Summit on Countering Daesh and Violent Extremism chaired by Obama in September past year.
“I don’t take these comments personally because it seems as if this is a phrase he’s used repeatedly including directed at the pope and others”, Obama said.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stressed on Saturday that the Philippines will pursue an independent foreign policy “without any interference” from any country, reports China’s Xinhua news agency.
“[Son of a bitch, I’ll curse you infront of everybody.] Tell that to everybody”, Duterte said. More than 2,800 suspected drug dealers and users have been killed since Duterte took office.
The remarks prompted a backlash in USA official circles, alongside Mr. Obama’s canceling his bilateral meeting with Mr. Duterte. After taking part in the conference of the Asean, Duterte went to Indonesia and it is foreseen he meets Widodo, to talk on matters of marine safety before returning to his country.
Duterte on Friday said he thought U.N. Secretary-General Ban a fool for bringing up the issue of human rights violations weeks before the summit in Laos. Joko will also host Duterte to a State Dinner before his Philippine counterpart leaves for Davao.
“Only China has offered to help us”, Duterte said Friday, according to an official transcript of a speech he gave to the Filipino community in Jakarta.
Advertisement
Duterte sparked a storm on the eve of an Asian summit this week when he appeared to label Obama a “son of a whore”, prompting the United States president to cancel a planned meeting.
