Philippine President Duterte Regrets Obama Rant
By UCA News
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte expressed regret over explicit comments made about President Barack Obama that led to the cancellation of a scheduled meeting in Laos.
Duterte, who called Obama a “son of a bitch,” said in a statement that he regretted “it came across as a personal attack on the U.S. president.”
“We look forward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions,” read Duterte’s statement.
The two leaders were supposed to meet on Sept. 6 on the sidelines of an international summit in Laos.
The U.S. government gave no explanation for the cancellation of the bilateral meeting.
Duterte made his foul-mouthed comments on Sept. 5 in response to a reporter’s question on the possibility that Obama will raise the issue of drug-related killings.
“I am a president of a sovereign state and we have long ceased to be a colony… You must be respectful. Do not just throw questions. Son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum,” he said.
Duterte has earlier cursed the pope and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
