Rody on confrontation with Obama: Who is he?

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte warned his US counterpart yesterday against confronting him on the continuing killings in the Philippines’ brutal drug war.

Before flying to the Lao capital Vientiane for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Duterte said he did not owe US President Barack Obama any explanation on the issues of human rights and extrajudicial killings hounding his administration.

“I do not respond to anybody but the people of the Philippines. Wala akong pakialam sa kanya. Who is he?” Duterte said in comments laced with profanity.

On Sept. 2, White House Press Secretary Josh Ernest said Obama would not pull any punches on human rights when he meets with Duterte on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit. Both sides had announced that the meeting would push through.

“I won’t pick a fight with Obama, but I won’t be beholden to anyone except the Filipino people. I do not accept the proposition that anyone is superior to me. Gawin mo yan, magkakababuyan tayo diyan,” Duterte said, warning that a lecture from Obama could lead to a rude confrontation.        

Meanwhile, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has appealed to Obama to give Duterte and the Philippines “a chance to achieve genuine change” following criticisms of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign and cozying up to China.

In an open letter ahead of the planned meeting between Duterte and Obama, Cayetano said the administration is currently waging a three-pronged war to address poverty, defeat drugs and criminality, and achieve just and inclusive peace.

“As a citizen of the world and a believer in change, allow me to write you an open letter to attempt to articulate the audacity of the Filipino people to hope for a better future and to aspire for a nation that is secure, peaceful, law abiding and prosperous,” he said.

The letter was posted in Cayetano’s Facebook account.