US to work with Rody despite renewed insults

WASHINGTON –The White House and State Department brushed aside President Duterte’s renewed barrage of insults and said the US government was committed to developing a good working relationship with him.

Asked if the recent cancellation of the sale of 26,000 M4 rifles to the Philippines was intended as a rebuke to some of Duterte’s rhetoric, White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz said, “I don’t have a tick-tock to share on that decision.”

“And while some of that rhetoric has been colorful and inflammatory, we haven’t received any official requests to change our security,
defense or cooperation with the Philippines,” he said.

State Department spokesman John Kirby declined comment on decisions that affect potential arms sales but stressed government-to-government relations between the United States and the Philippines are very strong.

Asked how he could describe relations as strong when he couldn’t say the US has a close relationship with Duterte, Kirby said: “Well, because the government isn’t – doesn’t rest – especially in a democracy, it doesn’t rest on the shoulders of just one individual.”

“Yes, he’s the head of state, but there are many agencies in his government, there are many Cabinet officials, there are longstanding relationships that we have nurtured over the years with figures in his government and those relationships are still there and they’re still vibrant,” Kirby said.

Asked if he was trying to suggest Washington might circumvent Duterte or deal with other officials, Kirby said: “The point I was trying to make is that there are institutions in the government that we have good relationships with and we’re going to try to continue those relationships, as well as try to develop a good working relationship with him himself. That’s all I meant,” Kirby said.

“And I can tell you, as I’ve said before from this podium, we’re committed to doing that,” he added.