WOW! Philippine President Duterte slams Obama, meeting canceled

Duterte's office later apologized.

President Obama has cancelled a planned meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines after he called Obama the "son-of-a-whore."

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Obama pledged to raise the issue of extra-judicial killings with the president the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte was elected on a tough-on-crime platform and has pledged to rid his country of the scourge of drugs.

Duterte controversially declared open season on drug dealers and traffickers, telling people it's okay to kill these people on sight. This has led to an epidemic of people being killed without being arrested or put on trial.

The Catholic Church has condemned the practice, but many people find the drug problem to be so severe, they feel drastic measures are warranted.

President Duterte said of Obama's plans to ask about the killings, "You must be respectful. Do not just throw away questions and statements. Son of a whore, I will curse you in that forum."

In backing out of the meeting, which was supposed to take place during an Asian summit in Laos, Obama said, "I always want to make sure if I'm having a meeting that it's actually productive and we're getting something done." Obama referred to Duterte as, "a colorful guy."

Duterte's office issued an apology for the Philippine president. "While the immediate cause was my strong comments to certain press questions that elicited concern and distress, we also regret that it came across as a personal attack on the US president," a statement by his office said.

The United States has a long history with the Philippines, but has not always been respectful to the Asian nation. The American treatment of the native people there has at times been atrocious. Any future relationship with the Philippines must be founded on principles of respect. The people of the Philippines have a sacred right to manage their national affairs as they see fit. They Philippine people need no lectures from Americans.

Certainly, most people are upset by the killings in that country. But where was that upset when the country was ravaged with drugs and dealers roamed with impunity?

Hopefully the leaders of both countries can reconcile quickly and find a respectful way forward for mutual benefit of their people.

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