MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte affirmed yesterday Manila’s strong alliance with Washington after the US State Department summoned Manila’s chargé d’affaires over what it described as Duterte‘s “inappropriate” remarks about US Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

Duterte called Goldberg “bakla (gay)” and “buwisit (pest)” in a speech before soldiers in Cebu City last Friday. He also admitted being ticked off by the envoy for criticizing a rape remark he made during the campaign period.

Duterte said Goldberg meddled in Philippine politics. Goldberg had said in a TV interview that he did not want to comment on remarks made by any candidate in Philippine elections. But he added that as a matter of principle, his government did not consider rape a joking matter.

In a speech delivered before military troops in Zamboanga del Sur yesterday, the President insisted that Goldberg should not have commented on the issue.

“Hayaan mo na lang yang mga sinabi ko sa ambassador kasi totoo naman yan (Just let my statement on the ambassador pass because after all, it is true). Why would you issue such statement when the election is going on?” the President said.

Despite the controversy, Duterte insisted the relationship between the Philippines and the US remains strong.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/08/11/1612326/philippines-us-alliance-remains-strong-duterte