The presidents of the two longtime allies were due to hold talks on Tuesday but the White House cancelled the meeting after Duterte’s insult.
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Barack Obama, on his final visit to Asia as USA president, insisted on Tuesday renewed American engagement with the region would endure after he left the White House.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Pefecto Yasay told reporters: “I am confirming that they met”.
Earlier Tuesday, Duterte expressed regret over his “son of a bitch” remark while referring to Obama, in a rare display of contrition by a politician whose wide arc of profanities has unabashedly targeted world figures including the pope.
Yeah, Philippine presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella confirmed, “The meeting between the United States and the Philippines has been mutually agreed upon to be moved to a later date”.
He may also need to be reminded that for decades, the United States has maintained strong bilateral relations with the Philippines, based on a number of factors including robust domestic support for global security, joint strategic goals in the Asia Pacific, a mutual commitment to democratic values, and historical ties.
Manila, Sept7:Days after his “Putang ina” comment on Obama, the firebrand Filipino leader has hit out at Abu Sayyaf, an ISIS affiliate Islamic terror group operating in parts of Philippines.
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has met informally with President Barack Obama in a holding room before attending a gala dinner at a regional summit, officials said.
“If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans”, he was quoted as saying, to an audience that reportedly included young children.
“President Duterte explained that the press reports that President Obama would “lecture” him on extrajudicial killings led to his strong comments, which in turn elicited concern”, the Philippines government said.
Abella was referring to Duterte’s war against narcotics, which caused alarm to United Nations and the worldwide community. “Time will come when I will eat you in front of the people”, he threatened the militants during his speech. Do not throw away questions and statements.
Touring a rehabilitation centre in Vientiane, Obama said the USA had a “profound moral and humanitarian obligation” to work to prevent more bloodshed from the remnants of the US bombardment.
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The delay in the Asean-China meeting, Cornista said, forced Duterte to skip the meeting because he was also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Lao President Bounnhang Vorachith around 7 p.m.
