As of this writing, US President Barack Obama has cancelled his scheduled meeting with President Duterte, after he found out that Duterte was already cursing him even before the meeting. Seeing that nothing constructive would come out of the planned meeting, he decided to cancel.
It makes sense, actually. Why would he want to meet someone who was already cursing him, even without knowing what would actually transpire?
Granted that Duterte just hates it when he is called out or cited for human rights abuses in connection to his current war against illegal drugs, should he have given the US president a chance to talk, before unleashing verbal hell?
Obviously we have a president who does not take criticism well, if at all. He has cursed the US president, the Pope for causing traffic, UN, its officials and the Secretary General himself for citing the extrajudicial killings, US and Australian ambassadors for criticizing his "I should have been first" comment on an Australian missionary, and all local officials who have also pointed out the more than two thousand killings so far.
Duterte's invective-laden tirade against Obama has made international news. This is how the world is starting to see us. A country with a leader who just cannot control his language, even in the forum of international discourse.
Some may see this as Duterte just being himself. But do we always have to show how we truly are?
What exactly is the definition of "diplomatic", which is the norm between representatives, even leaders of nations?
Many are already downplaying this incident, saying that Obama has but a few months in office to effect any real change in US-Philippine relations. US-Philippine relations are much stronger than Duterte's expletives, so say a senatorial ally of the president. Damage control, obviously.
Duterte's rabid supporters are even joining the fray, calling the US leader a "coward" by not facing him. But is this what we really want to be known for internationally? That we have a leader who is ready at any time to curse anyone he does not like? That the world should just accept him for what he is? Are we headed into isolation, if ever the time comes and someone decides to call Duterte's dare and sever relations?
Or is this Duterte's plan all along, as he brings up the Americans' role in the Moro problem of Mindanao, that continues to "boil" to this day?
Then there is China, which Duterte seems to be less abrasive towards its representatives and leaders.
What happened to the jet ski scenario where he plans to plant a Philippine flag on one of the disputed islands?Has he made his choice as to who he wants to have closer ties with?
Again I have to ask, is this what Filipinos want, or is this what President Duterte wants?