This week saw US President Barack Obama attending the ASEAN Summit in Loas. Today, Obama was set to meet Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte but things took a turn after a scandalising jibe thought to be directed at the American leader.
At a press conference, Duterte was asked what he’ll say if Obama raises the issue of the government approved drug-related killings sweeping the Philippines. Over 2000 suspected drug traffickers have been killed since Duterte launched his war on drugs. Duterte responded:
“I am a president of a sovereign state and we have long ceased to be a colony. I do not have any master except the Filipino people, nobody but nobody.
“You must be respectful. Do not just throw questions. Son of a whore, I will swear at you in that forum.”
The Tuesday talks have now been scrapped with Duterte quickly backtracking, “I do not want to quarrel with the most powerful country on the planet.”
Obama is the first sitting president to visit Laos, and it was thought he was going to confront America and Laos’ chilling history. During the Vietnam war, America bombed Laos, destroying villages, schools and temples and killing tens of thousands.
