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Philippine president regrets 'son of a bitch' remark referring to Obama

40 Comments
By VIJAY JOSHI

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40 Comments
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But perhaps Duterte’s aides realized it would be unwise to take on the most powerful official in the world, and there would be a price to pay for insulting the president of the United States.

Gee, ya think? Duterte's aids seem more competent that Trump's - or at least better at reining him in.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

One must question whether this guy is even mentally competent

6 ( +11 / -5 )

He really dodged a balut there...

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Impolitic, to say the least

3 ( +4 / -1 )

In a statement read out by his spokesman

You say it yourself, you retract it yourself. Don't get some lackey to do it for you. I knew this before graduating from kindergarten.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

the correct translation apparently is, son of a whore.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Duterte has to do a better job of holding his tongue. The Philippines needs the U.S. a hell of a lot more than the U.S. needs the Philippines.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Trump would have asked for the nuclear code briefcase if he were POTUS!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This guy is a wako

2 ( +5 / -3 )

No head of state should meet with this guy.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Putang ina is used like mofo - the meaning of the insult is not literal, but it can still be used as a heavy insult (or like mofo, sometimes not)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Duterte said he would demand that Obama allow him to first explain the context of his crackdown before engaging the U.S. president in a discussion about the deaths.

What's to explain? Your "crackdown" consists of executing alleged drug dealers without a trial. If someone accuses you of being a drug dealer, does that mean you're executed on the spot as well? I didn't think so.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Insults strike directly at a person's feeling, self-esteem, pride, identity and ego. So no matter why an insult happens or when it happens, it leaves a scar. Forgive and forget and move on. Meet again in the future.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Duterte Harry and the Donald will get on like a house (or a strategic region) on fire.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I wonder, if Trump becomes Pres. and this idiot insulted him like that, what would happen? Would it turn into an international verbal Jerry Springer thing? Duterte’s lucky that Obama is tolerant. IF it had been Trump, the US would gone mental...

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Damage done. He's started out his first major engagement with the US with personal insults, and it'll take a LONG time for anything to change now, especially with Duterte being no better than the head of a death squad with Turette's.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Duterte’s lucky that Obama is tolerant

Obama, as any president of the US, does not tolerate such things. Such disrespect is, indeed, intolerable.

And that is why by Tuesday, Duterte had done a complete U-turn in the tone of his statement.

Guys like Duterte don't do that unless they are forced to.

Obama forced him to bend the knee.

And yes, it is that simple.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The US saved the Philippines' face - instead of making a big row of this, they just said it's not fair for the Philippine delegation to do discussions in this type of atmosphere, so they're postponing the US-Philippine discussions for later when the fiasco dies down.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It appears he didn't say 'bitch', that's just the sanitized version, for not-quite-post-Victorian media outlets.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I suspect divestment from the Philippines may be in the horizon.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I will return.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

US President Obama needs to stop lecturing other countries about human right and what they can do and what they can't do until he has sorting out that kind of problem his own country. Don't forget United State was biggest consumers of all kind of drugs and look at dysfunction American society that was causing by drugs. The illicit drug is evil and the evil kill millions of drug users. You need tough law against drug dealers but the law doesn't work because corrupt Police officers. So Philippine President has given law to peoples' hands. It was not right but it work. If you look at poor South East Asian countries like Philippine and you will see many families were destroyed by illicit drug like Ice. I think US Government should stop poking its nose into other countries' Government's business.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Duterte is just street trash in a 3rd world nation, his cowardly aplology is pathetic. Anyway - why would any respectable Westerner lower themselves to meet such a low-ranked human as Duterte? What has Duterte and his 3rd-world nation got to offer to the civilised world?

Good move by Obama.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

They should have a fair trial, but after that, let the executions commence I say.

Doubling down on the failed war on drugs.

How long will people continue to believe the fallacy that drugs should be dealt with as a criminal problem and not a mental health problem?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is how (some) Philippine media deliver a transcript: Media: IF Obama brings up the subject of EJK, what will you say to him?" Duterte: "You must be respectful. (addressing the reporter) Do not throw away questions and statements or putang ina (whore mother) mumurahin talaga kita dyan sa forum (i'll really cursed you in the forum).

putang ina was delivered as an expression and not directly addressed to Pres. Obama.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

IF it had been Trump, the US would gone mental...

No, the U.S. wouldn't have gone mental. Only Trump would have.

Duterte is a vulgar, ignorant piece of trash. His comments about the rape and brutal murder of an Australian nun during a prisoner uprising in the town he was a mayor of are eternally unforgivable.

No head of state, Obama or otherwise, should be giving this troll the time of day. And if that translates to soured relations between the US and the Philippines, so be it. Maybe the next time Philippine voters have a choice at the polls, they won't give in to gibbering monkey-like fear and elect the lowest common denominator.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It cannot be more clear that US needs the Philippines as a pawn to curb China's increasing influence in the region. And Duterte is quite popular among the Filipinos for his particular macho style in the Filipino culture. And he was quite the successful mayor and a political leader among the largest ethnic group in the entire Philippines. He absolutely crushed his rival in the presidential election by winning and unheard of # in nearly 40% more votes than his rival. Think about this, no Japanese presidential candidate in the modern era has ever won against his opponent in such vast disparities in votes.

So clearly he is playing to his own people when he speaks. And clearly he is using all the tricks in demagoguery and sensationalism that a cunning politician would use. The only difference is his policies worked when he basically ruled the non-Luzon islands prior to the election. He knows US needs him to fend off China and he is playing both sides to maximize his value and whatever he can get for his country. The most amazing thing is China is actually playing ball with him. I think if US wants to be successful in its campaign against China in South China Sea, Obama or whoever the next potus is must align with Duterte. Philippines is key in containing China.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

This guy will be just a small footnote in history soon. I give him 5 years, tops.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Don't bite the hand that feeds you!!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I do no regret his comments about Obama...he has lessened America's role in the world, and the world is worse off for his presence

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

What's to explain? Your "crackdown" consists of executing alleged drug dealers without a trial. If someone accuses you of being a drug dealer, does that mean you're executed on the spot as well? I didn't think so.

They should have a fair trial, but after that, let the executions commence I say. The West is far, far too soft on drug crime and prison costs money.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

No need to apologize. He only stated what other world leaders and countless people around the globe (especially the bereaved family members of Obama's indiscriminate drone attacks in the ME) think about him. . . .

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The truth hurts.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Why can't we get get Queens "Great King Rat" ouda my head......

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

http://www.worldfuturefund.org/wffmaster/Reading/war.crimes/US/U.S.Philippines.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine%E2%80%93American_War

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

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