Washington :The White House cancelled the meeting of the US President Barack Obama with his Philippines counterpart Rodrigo Duterte after the latter used obscene language against him.
“President Obama will not be holding a bilateral meeting with President Duterte of the Philippines this afternoon,” said Ned Price spokesman of the National Security Council, White House.
“Instead, he will meet with President Park of the Republic of Korea this afternoon, September 6,” Price said in a brief statement.
The White House decision in this regard came after the newly elected President of Philippines accused Obama and used an obscene language against him an unprecedented accusation against a US President.
“Who does he think he is? I am no American puppet. I am the president of a sovereign country and I am not answerable to anyone except the Filipino people. Son of a bitch, I will swear at you,” Duterte said in Philippines on Monday.
His remarks came after the White House officials said Obama in his meeting with him in Laos on Tuesday would confront about his country’s human rights record of handling drug traffickers.
Earlier in the day Obama indicated that his scheduled meeting with Duterte might not go forward.
“I always want to make sure if I’m having a meeting that it’s productive and we’re getting something done. If and when we have a meeting, this is something that is going to be brought up,” Obama told reporters at a news conference in China.
According to an international news agency, the Filipino leader on Tuesday apologised for his remarks and expressed regret.
PTI