“As despicable as these (crime) networks may be and as much damage as they do, it is important from our perspective to make sure that we do it the right way”, Obama told reporters when asked about his conversation with Duterte on the sidelines of Laos meetings. It all springs from the fact the relationship between the Philippines and the United States is firm, very strong.
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Obama also confirmed that he had an interaction with Duterte on Wednesday night as initially reported by Malacanang officials.
“We asked for help from President Duterte to resolve the case as soon as possible”, President Jokowi said during a meeting with President Duterte at the State Palace in Jakarta onFriday, September 9, 2016.
He bristled at the suggestion he’d been slighted in Asia or that leaders in the region were rejecting his leadership – a criticism leveled by Trump, who said he’d have picked up and left had he been treated the way Obama was in Asia.
In his final news conference in Laos on Thursday, Obama was asked about the USA military prison at Guantanamo Bay, which has still not closed despite the US president stating that he would do so when he was first elected in 2008. “This is the fault of the insane people in the State Department”, he said.
The summit ended with Laos turning over the chairmanship of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations to Duterte, whose country will host the annual diplomatic gathering next year.
Duterte, who assumed the presidency in June, has had an uneasy relationship with the USA, his country’s longtime treaty ally. “I am the president of the Philippines, not the republic of the global community”. “Son of a whore, I will curse you in that forum”, Duterte told reporters shortly before flying to Laos. Over 2,000 people have been killed in a crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users since Duterte assumed office in June.
Datuk Seri Najib Razak is seen having a chat with US President Barack Obama at the Gala Dinner in conjunction with Asean and Related Summits in Laos.
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“Our theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World” captures our resolve to consolidate our community for our peoples with the sense of togetherness and common identity, ready and able to take our rightful place in the global community of nations”, he said.
