Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte hit out against the United States again on Tuesday, criticising America's influence on the Philippines region.
Duterte made the statement at the Manila airport before heading for an official visit to Japan. The President's speech was along the same lines as the one delivered in Beijing while he was on his official visit to China. Durterte, in Beijing, had said that it was time for the relationship between the Philippines and its longest-standing international ally United States to end. He had said that "It was time to say goodbye to US."
The Philippines President said his relationship with the US worsened ever since he was running for the country's elections in May this year.
Referring to the comments made by the US Ambassador to the Philippines, Philip Goldberg, about human rights violation, Duterte said, "You know I didn't start this fight. They started it, then came out the issue of human rights, the State Department, Obama, EU. They did this to me. Then they said, we will cut our assistance. So I said to them, 'son of a bitch, do not make us your dogs, as if I am a dog with a leash, and you throw some bread, where I can't reach," CNN reported.
"The ambassador said something not very nice. You are not supposed to do that because in an election of another country, you should be careful with your mouth," Duterte added.
The Philippines leader also made a remark about the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US saying that America can forget about the deal.
"I do not want to see any military man of any other nation (in the Philippines), except the Filipino soldier. That's the long and short of it. I want an independent policy where I don't have to accede to anyone else," the Philippines President added.
Duterte has been embroiled in controversies ever since he took the Philippines' presidential seat in June. Duterte has encouraged citizens in Philippines to bring justice to drug peddlers in the nation as part of his crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users. Over 2,800 people have been killed in this crackdown so far.
Duterte has been drifting away from the US ever since his presidency. The Philippines President also made the headlines last month by calling US President Barack Obama "son of a b****" ahead of the ASEAN Summit. The remarks led Obama to cancel a scheduled meeting between the two leaders. Duterte later apologised for his remarks and met Obama briefly on the sidelines of the summit.
