Duterte Says: Mr. Obama, You can Go To Hell

BRUSSELS - Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte's remarks telling U.S. President Barack Obama to "go to hell" and saying he could get weapons from Russia and China seem at odds with the warm relationship between the Philippine and U.S. people and the record of cooperation between the governments, the U.S. State Department spokesman said on Tuesday.

"We've already spoken to this sort of rhetoric," John Kirby said when asked about Duterte's comments on Tuesday. 

"Frankly, it seems at odds with the warm relationship that exists between the Filipino and American people and the record of important cooperation between our two governments, cooperation that has continued under the Duterte government," he added.

Duterte on Tuesday told U.S. President Barack Obama to "go to hell" and said the United States had refused to sell some weapons to his country but he did not care because Russia and China were willing suppliers.  

He said the United States should have supported the Philippines in tackling its chronic drugs problems but instead criticised him for the high death toll, as did the European Union.

"Instead of helping us, the first to hit back was the State Department, so you can go to hell. Mister Obama, you can go to hell," he said.

"EU better choose purgatory because hell is full."

In his latest salvo, Duterte said he was realigning his foreign policy because the United States had failed the Philippines and added that at some point, "I will break up with America".

It was not clear what he meant by "break up".

"I am the president and I carry the Republic of the Philippines. Now if you start hitting me like this, the Filipinos will be humiliated and people will say your president is a murderer. There is an international forum, you bring it there, have it referred to the human rights commission, then send a rapporteur to investigate and make a report then go back to the body and speak there," he said.

During three tangential and fiercely worded speeches in Manila, Duterte said the United States did not want to sell missiles and other weapons, but Russia and China had told him they could provide them easily.

"You cannot stop me. It is my sacred duty, although it may sound a shit to you, it is my sacred duty to keep the integrity of this republic and the people healthy," Duterte said.

"If this is what happens now, I will be reconfiguring my foreign policy. Eventually, I might, in my time, I will break up with America. I would rather go to Russia and to China. At least even if we do not agree with the ideology, they have respect for the people."

His comments were the latest in a near-daily barrage of hostility towards the United States, during which Duterte has started to contrast the former colonial power with its geopolitical rivals Russia and China.

According to some U.S. officials, Washington has been doing its best to ignore Duterte's rhetoric and not provide him with a pretext for more outbursts.

While an open break with Manila would create problems in a region where China's influence has grown, there were no serious discussions about taking punitive steps such as cutting aid to the Philippines, two U.S. officials said on Monday (October 3).

Several of Duterte's allies on Monday suggested he act more like a statesman because his comments had created a stir. On Tuesday, he said his outbursts were because he was provoked by criticism of his crackdown on drugs.

Source:news.abs-cbn.com