A little over a month after expressing regret for his obscenity-laden rant against US President Barack Obama, tough-talking Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte told the POTUS to “go to hell,” claiming the United States refused to sell him weapons.
He stated that he no longer cares because Russia and China are willing to be suppliers, Reuters reported. Duterte also proclaimed he was realigning his foreign policy and accused the United States government of turning its back on the Philippines.
“I will break up with America,” he announced during a speech on Tuesday.
“Instead of helping us, the first to hit was the State Department. So you can go to hell, Mr. Obama, you can go to hell,” he said. “EU, better choose purgatory. Hell is full already. Why should I be afraid of you?”
Duterte expressed his frustration that the United States reportedly refused to sell him missiles and other weapons, but said Russia and China were both willing to do so.
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“Although it may sound shit to you, it is my sacred duty to keep the integrity of this republic and the people healthy,” Duterte was quoted as saying. “If you don’t want to sell arms, I’ll go to Russia. I sent the generals to Russia and Russia said ‘do not worry we have everything you need, we’ll give it to you’. And as for China, they said ‘just come over and sign and everything will be delivered’.”
As Duterte’s barrage of hostilities against the United States becomes more common, the Philippine leader expressed willingness to be in alliance with Russia and China.
U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday:
“Frankly, it seems at odds with the warm relationship that exists between the Filipino and American people and the record of important cooperation between our two governments, cooperation that has continued under the Duterte government.”
He also said he would review the U.S.-Philippines Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, a treaty signed in 2014 that grants U.S. soldiers access to Philippine bases. The agreement also allows American troops to build facilities for military and humanitarian purposes.
In a separate speech delivered to the Jewish community at a synagogue, Duterte lamented how the United States criticized him instead of supporting him in his “war against drugs.”
“They just … reprimand another president in front of the international community,” he said. “This is what happens now, I will be reconfiguring my foreign policy. Eventually, I might in my time I will break up with America.”
Washington has so far been ignoring Duterte’s pronouncements, with U.S. officials saying they would use the defense chiefs meeting in Hawaii to clarify issues with him.
“The diplomatic lines of communication between the United States and the Philippines remain open,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Tuesday. “We have not yet received any sort of formal communication … about making substantial changes to our bilateral relationship.”
