Obama, Duterte exchanged pleasantries – White House

US President Barack Obama met briefly with Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, their two governments said, days after the firebrand politician warned of throwing expletives at the US president.

The encounter took place just before a dinner during a summit of regional leaders in Laos, officials indicated.

“They met at the holding room and they were the last people to leave the holding room. I can’t say how long they met,” Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., traveling with Duterte, told reporters shortly afterwards. “I’m very happy that it happened.”

In a terse statement, the White House said only that “Obama had a brief discussion with President Duterte before the ASEAN Gala Dinner in the leaders’ hold space.”

“The exchange consisted of pleasantries between the two,” the White House added.

Obama canceled Tuesday’s planned meeting with Duterte on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-hosted summit after the acidtongued Philippine president launched a barrage of insults the previous day.

His outburst was prompted by US assertions that Obama planned to raise the issue of Duterte’s war on crime that has claimed over 2,000 lives in just over two months.

“You must be respectful. Do not just throw away questions and statements. Son of a whore, I will curse you in that forum,” Duterte told reporters when asked about his message for Obama.

“We will be wallowing in the mud like pigs if you do that to me.”

Obama initially responded by calling Duterte a “colorful guy,” but then called off the meeting after the international media reported heavily on the issue. –