President Obama used his press conference today to address how Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte promised to curse him out if he gets a lecture on human rights when the two of them meet during an upcoming conference in Laos.
“I have seen some of those colorful statements in the past. Clearly he’s a colorful guy,” Obama said. “Obviously the Filipino people are some of our closest friends and allies, the Philippines is a treaty ally of ours, but I always want to make sure if I’m having a meeting that it’s actually productive and we’re getting something done.”
Duterte was elected in May on a major war-on-drugs platform, and he is known for having a brusque speaking style and an uncompromising approach to politics. Fox News reports that Duterte’s policies have led to the extrajudicial killings of more than 2,000 people, which has prompted criticism and concern from world leaders for months.
It is not yet certain that Obama planned to bring up the topic during an upcoming summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but Duterte warned Obama in a Monday presser that he will call him a “son of a whore” if he “just throw[s] away questions and statements.”
In terms of the drug trade, Obama said today in China that America will stand for due process and international law in its approach to dealing with drug crime.
Watch above, via CNN
Source :CNN
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