Duterte, Obama ties ‘on the mend’

US, Hillary to Rody: Have some respect

VIENTIANE – President Duterte briefly chatted here last night with US President Barack Obama in what Philippine officials saw as a positive sign of improving ties between the two leaders after a rocky start.

Members of the Philippine delegation said the two talked for about three minutes in a holding room shortly before the gala dinner for leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners at the National Convention Center in this Lao capital.

Officials could not give details about what the two discussed. But Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose relayed a message from presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza that the two appeared to have ironed out their differences – “I think naayos na ang gusot.”

Earlier yesterday, Malacañang officials said Duterte was expected to be seated during the gala dinner between Obama and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

But at the dinner, Obama was seated between Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc while Duterte was between Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Ban was seated far from Duterte. There was no chance for even a chat between the UN chief and Duterte, Philippine officials said.

Citing lack of time, Duterte had declined a meeting with Ban, who had expressed concern about drug-related killings in the Philippines. Duterte also skipped the ASEAN-UN summit here yesterday, instead sending Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.

In the United States, the State Department and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday stressed the need for ties with the Philippines to be based on mutual respect, after Duterte raised worries about the future of the key alliance by calling Obama a “son of a whore.”

Despite US dismay over Duterte’s remarks, current and former US officials played down the impact, saying they did not expect any serious damage to ties at a time of high tensions over China’s extensive territorial claims in Asia.

The State Department said a planned first meeting between Obama and his counterpart on the sidelines of a regional summit in Laos on Tuesday was canceled because the tone of Duterte’s rhetoric raised questions about the chances of productive talks.

“Words matter, and we want to see an atmosphere that is cordial and open to strong cooperation,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner told a regular news briefing in Washington.

Clinton, who as secretary of state was an architect of Obama’s policy of emphasizing the importance of the Asia-Pacific to US interests in the face of a rising China, said Obama was right to cancel the meeting.

“When the president of the Philippines insulted our president, it was appropriate in a very low-key way to say: sorry, no meeting,” she told reporters on her campaign plane. “We have a lot of ties between the United States and the Philippines. And I think it’s very important that we have a relationship, but there has to be a certain level of respect that is expected on both sides,” Clinton said.

Duterte made the remark about Obama while explaining that he would not be lectured over extrajudicial killings in the war against drugs he has launched since taking over two months ago and which has killed about 2,400 people.

He has previously called the pope a “son of a whore” and the US ambassador a “gay son of a whore.”

The Philippines voiced regret for Duterte’s comments after Obama cancelled a formal bilateral meeting. The White House then said Obama might speak with Duterte informally.

‘Feeling his way’

Duterte’s volatile nature threatens to complicate Washington’s ties with its closest ally in Southeast Asia as it tries to forge a united front in the region in response to China’s extensive claims in the strategic South China Sea.

The Philippines has been central in this effort due to an international court case it brought and won against Beijing.

In March, the United States and the Philippines agreed on five locations for US military facilities in the country under a new security deal. The deal grants Washington increased military presence in its former colony through rotation of ships and planes for humanitarian and maritime security operations.

Asked about Duterte’s comments, US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said the defense relationship with the Philippines was a “strong” and “longstanding” one.