“I don’t think the guy’s qualified to be president of the United States, and every time he speaks, that opinion is confirmed”, Obama told a news conference. Duterte also made that remark before assuming the office of the presidency, when many in Philippine media were still wondering whether Duterte would alter his well-known profane way of speaking to better fit the office of the presidency once inaugurated. “People start thinking we should be grading on a curve”.
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Relations saw a spectacular setback this week when Mr. Duterte branded Obama a “son of a bitch” after being told the U.S. president planned to raise concerns about his war on drugs.
VIENTIANE-President Rodrigo Duterte’s first appearance in an worldwide summit was “brilliant” despite criticisms of his “colorful” language and awkward moments on the world stage, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.
When he’s overseas, Obama has relayed fears from foreign leaders, who he says question him often about the state of the U.S. presidential contest. Duterte subsequently issued a statement expressing regret that Obama was offended. “Son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum”, he said.
“I said that, but not in relation to Obama, I’m not fighting with America”.
“I don’t take these comments personally because it seems this is a phrase he’s used repeatedly, including directly at the pope and others, so I think it seems to be a habit”, Obama said Thursday.
According to the Associated Press, two Philippine Cabinet officials said Duterte did not criticize any country or leader by name in his speech.
Channapha Khamvongsa: After War, A New Legacy of Peace in Laos: President Obama became the first USA president to visit Laos, where he discussed his work to address a legacy of war in the country.
Duterte also said he would try to boost security for ships using the waters between Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia, where there have been several kidnappings and other attacks. “I am the president of the Philippines, not the republic of the global community”, he said.
What if Duterte insists to wage the war on drugs his way?
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But on Thursday morning, Duterte was absent from meetings that Southeast Asian leaders held with Obama and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
