‘I’m your humble friend’
> Tillerson gets warm reception from Duterte
MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called himself a “humble friend” of the US on Monday, taking a break from his notorious hostility towards Washington to grant a warm reception to visiting US secretary of state Rex Tillerson.
Duterte’s often profanity-laden tirades against the US has become his trademark during his year-old presidency, but he appeared happy to meet Tillerson, who was in Manila to attend a regional security meeting dominated by North Korea’s missile tests, and maritime squabbles.
“I am happy to see you ... and you have come at a time when the world is not so good, especially in the Korean peninsula, and of course, the ever nagging problem of South China Sea,” Duterte told Tillerson at the presidential palace.
“I know you’re worried there, because you also have domestic problems. We are friends. We are allies,” said Duterte.
“I am your humble friend in Southeast Asia,” he said.
The maverick leader makes no attempt to hide his grudge against the US, which he has repeatedly chided for what he says is a history of hypocritical foreign policy, and for treating the Philippines “like a dog”.
He last year announced to China his “separation” from Washington, has complained about being given “hand-medown” US military hardware, and once invited American investors jittery about his remarks to pack their bags and leave.
But Duterte’s biggest anger was directed at former president Barack Obama, whose administration spoke out against his signature war on drugs.
His warm words for Tillerson indicates Philippines-US ties under President Donald Trump may be in better shape.
Though Duterte still vents about Washington, he has spoken positively about Trump, who praised him for doing “an unbelievable job on the drug problem”.
Trump in an April phone call told Duterte he would invite him to the White House. But when a US lawmaker recently said he would try to block that, Duterte said he would never go to the US because “I’ve seen America and it’s lousy”.
Duterte said he and Tillerson discussed “many things” on Monday, but he did not give details. – Reuters