Not yet in good terms?
President Rodrigo Duterte has again expressed his dismay to United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg for meddling into Philippine politics during the May elections.
“Okay naman kami ni Kerry (US Secretary of State John Kerry). Nag-away kami ng Ambassador niyang bakla. P***** i**. Buwisit ako diyan. Nakikisali doon sa eleksyon,giving statements here and there. He was not supposed to do that,” Duterte said in a speech at Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu City on Friday evening.
(I’m okay with Kerry. It’s the gay ambassador I quarreled with. Son of a b****. I’m annoyed with him. He was meddling in the elections, giving statements here and there. He was not supposed to do that.)
The 71-year-old President was referring to the statement of Goldberg in response to Duterte’s remarks about the rape of an Australian missionary in 1989.
At the height of the controversy, Goldberg had said that “statements by anyone, anywhere that either degrade women or trivialize issues so serious as rape or murder are not ones that we condone.”
This remark did not sit well with Duterte, saying the US envoy should have just “shut up.” He said he doesn’t care if the US cuts diplomatic ties with the Philippines.
READ: Duterte tells US, Aussie envoys: Shut up, stay out of PH politics
The statements of Duterte against Goldberg came more than a week after the US envoy and US Secretary of State John Kerry made a courtesy visit at Malacañang.
During their visit, Kerry promised to give $32 million to the government for law enforcement.
“Iniwanan pa kami ni Delfin (Lorenzana) ng ($32) million. Okay ito a. Bastusin natin ulit para mag-areglo itong buang na ito. Pera pala ito, pera-pera lang,” Duterte said in jest.
(He even left me and Delfin Lorenzana with $32 million. This seems alright. Let’s insult them again so this lunatic would make it up to us again. It’s all about money.)
The Philippines is a longtime ally of the US. CDG
READ: Duterte to US Ambassador Goldberg: Are you with us or not?