Philippines’ Duterte expresses regret over Obama ‘son of a whore’ slur
Even though Duterte’s latest comment does not amount to an apology, the expression of regret is unusual for the tough-talking former mayor
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte expressed regret Tuesday that a tirade against Barack Obama, in which he called the US leader a “son of a whore”, came across as a personal attack.
Longtime allies the United States and the Philippines have seen relations plunge under a barrage of insults from Duterte since he came to office on June 30.
“While the immediate cause was my strong comments to certain press questions that elicited concern and distress we also regret it came across as a personal attack on the US president,” a statement released by Duterte said.
The 71-year-old former prosecutor was referring to his remarks on Monday, when he warned he would not be lectured by Obama over concerns about a brutal war on drug crime that has claimed more than 2,400 lives in the Philippines.