President Rodrigo Duterte with Ambassadors Philip Goldberg of the United States. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday affirmed the strong alliance of the Philippines and the United States (US) amid his recent tirades against United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg.
“Pasagdi na lang na akong tirada sa ilang ambassador kay tinuod man na. Simply the truth at the time of election. Nganong muhatag man ka ug statement when the election is going on?” Duterte said in a speech at the 1st Infantry Division in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
(Just ignore my tirade against their ambassador because they were true anyway. Simply the truth at the time of election. Why would he give a statement when the election is going on?)
Duterte reiterated that Goldberg should not have meddled into Philippine politics.
“Wala kay labot diha. That is our business. Kampanya gud ito,” he said.
(You should not have meddled. That is our business. It was the campaign season.)
The President was referring to the statement of Goldberg in response to Duterte’s remarks about the rape of an Australian missionary in 1989.
READ: US says Duterte’s ‘bakla’ comment vs Goldberg ‘inappropriate’
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.”
The chief executive earlier described the US envoy as “gay” and annoying.
Department of State press director Elizabeth Trudeau as asked Filipino charge d’affaires Patrick Chuasoto to explain Duterte’s “inappropriate comments.”
READ: US summons PH envoy over Duterte’s ‘bakla’ tag on Goldberg
Despite his tirades, Duterte acknowledged the Philippines’ strong alliance with the US.
The President vowed to provide the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with quality equipment, which would be sourced from few countries including the United States.
“There is only one source. Two or one. The United States with whom we have alliance militarily,” he said.
“But I will reiterate our strong alliance with America,” he added. JE