Duterte tirade vs Goldberg not meant to be public statement–Abella

President Rodrigo Duterte. FILE PHOTO

The tirades of President Rodrigo Duterte against United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg were not meant for public consumption, a Palace official said on Thursday.

Duterte had earlier slammed Goldberg and described him as “gay” and “bwisit” during a speech before soldiers in Cebu.

But Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the statement was only for a specific audience.

“First and foremost, it was not meant to be a public statement. It was addressed to a certain audience and the comments were confined to a certain audience,” Abella told reporters in a news briefing.

The speech of the President was aired live on television and in radio stations.

Abella did not elaborate what he meant with saying it was directed for a “certain audience” only.

The US State Department has summoned Philippines’ Charge d’affaires Patrick Chuasoto “to clarify those remarks.”

READ: US summons PH envoy over Duterte’s ‘bakla’ tag on Goldberg

Abella said Chuasoto already went to the US Department of State to explain the controversial tirades of Duterte.

The Palace official did not categorically say whether Chuasoto apologized to the US.

“As I said earlier, the charge d’affaires went and made representation for the President and explained the situation,” he said.

Asked whether everything was okay after Chuasoto’s meeting with the US, he said, “I assume.”

While the President on Wednesday refused to apologize for his tirade against Goldberg, he reiterated our country’s alliance with the US.

READ: Duterte reiterates alliance with US despite tirade vs Goldberg

“I will reiterate our strong alliance with America,” he said in a speech before soldiers in Zamboanga City. JE