President Duterte has said that Donald Trump is “cleaning the mess” of US-Philippine relations left by his predecessor in the White House.
Speaking on Thursday (November 22), he said the country’s “strained” ties with the US began when President Obama criticised his crackdown on illegal drugs.
“Kaya itong strained relation I will admit it — with America — started with Obama. Trump is cleaning the mess,” the president said during the inauguration of the Cavite Gateway Terminal in Tanza.
He then recalled telling Obama to “go to hell” for disrespecting a fellow leader of a sovereign nation. He said that Obama should have lodged a complaint before the UN rather than reprimanding him in public.
“Iyong Obama na ‘yon reprimanding me in a press interview. We are both heads of state. If you have some qualms against me, why don’t you go to the United Nations and squawk there until kingdom come?” he said.
“I said, ‘You are a son of a bitch. I said, ‘You can go to hell.’ I said ‘You think you’re better than me. If you don’t know how to respect others, you son of a bitch. You fool.”
The president’s remarks came just weeks after he apologised to Obama for uttering profane words against him. During his visit to Israel in September, he said that he hoped Obama would forgive him, adding: ”I have forgiven you”.
Another result of Obama’s perceived disrespect, the president said, was his decision to forge closer alliances with Russia and China — traditional rivals of the US. He even once threatened to “break up” with America, cancel their mutual defence pact and order the pullout of all American troops in the Philippines.
However, the tensions between the two countries have eased since President Duterte welcomed Trump’s election and described him as a “good friend” to the Philippines.
Follow our Facebook page for daily news updates
…
Comments are closed.