Duterte Expresses Regret over Strong Comments against Obama

Vientiane, 04 Dzulhijah 1437/07 September 2016 (MINA) – Hours after US President Barack Obama cancelled their scheduled meeting, President Duterte expressed regret yesterday that his tirade against the leader of the most powerful nation came across as a personal attack.

The meeting was supposed to take place on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit here.

“While the immediate cause was my strong comments to certain press questions that elicited concern and distress, we also regret it came across as a personal attack on the US president,” The Star quoted Duterte as saying in a statement read by Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

He said the meeting was “mutually agreed upon” to be moved to a “later date.”

The 71-year-old former prosecutor and Davao City mayor on Monday threatened to curse Obama to his face if the latter lectured him over concerns about a brutal war on illegal drugs that has claimed more than 2,400 lives in the Philippines.

“You must be respectful. Do not just throw away questions and statements. Son of a whore, I will curse you in that forum,” Duterte told reporters on Monday when asked about his message for Obama.

“We will be wallowing in the mud like pigs if you do that to me,” he addedd.

But the President softened his tone after Washington’s announcement of the cancelation of the bilateral meeting.

“He regrets that his remarks to the press have caused much controversy,” a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) statement said.

“Both delegations, however, have agreed that in the light of the issues that still need to be worked on, the bilateral meeting between the two nations will be postponed to a later date,” the statement said.

“The President looks forward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions, and working in mutually responsible ways for both countries,” it added.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose said that while the schedules of the two leaders are tight, there might still be a chance for them to meet.

“We’re working for that to happen,” Jose said in a text message from Laos. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)