‘Worried foreign firms can leave’

Tokyo, Oct. 25: President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday urged foreign businesses in the Philippines worried about his deadly drug war to “pack up and leave”, as he launched another antiAmerican tirade before flying to Japan to attract investments.

Mr Duterte voiced outrage at comments made the previous day by the top US envoy to Asia that his fiery rhetoric and crime war, which has claimed about 3,700 lives in four months, were bad for business.

These Americans are really crazy. Their style is to walk here. They think they are somebodies — Rodrigo Duterte, Philippines Prez

“These Americans are really crazy. Their style is to walk here. They think they are somebodies,” Mr Duterte said, as he held up a newspaper with headlines reporting the criticism from US assistant secretary of state Daniel Russel.

“Russel says ‘Duterte comments causing worries in business communities’. Then you pack up and leave. We will recover, I assure you.”

Mr Duterte then flew to Japan, one of the top US allies in Asia, for a threeday visit that is partly aimed at building on twoway trade of more than $18 billion dollars last year.

“With Japan as the Philippines’ top trading partner, I shall seek the sustainment and further enhancement of our important economic ties,” Mr Duterte, 71, said in prepared remarks at Manila airport.

“I look forward to meeting business leaders in Japan. I will tell them clearly that the Philippines is open for business.”