President Duterte will not say sorry to US Ambassador Philip Goldberg.
President Rodrigo Duterte maintained his position that United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg should ask sorry first before he does the same.
Duterte on Friday (August 12) said he was not going to apologize to US ambassador after his remarks that the diplomat is gay or ‘bakla’.
In a speech last week, Duterte called Goldberg “bakla” over the envoy’s comments during the campaign period. That resulted in the US Depart of State summoning the Philippines envoy in Washington to explain Duterte’s comments.
“Hindi nga siya nag-apologize sa akin, why would I apologize to him? Siya mismo ang nag-una,” he said in an ambush interview after a speech made in Camp Teodolfo Baustista in Jolo, Sulu on Friday.
The rift between Duterte and Goldberg started after the former Davao City mayor made a controversial remark over the rape of an Australian missionary in 1989.
Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely reacted saying rape and murder should never be trivialized.
Goldberg, in a television interview, supported Gorely’s position.
Duterte said he was hurt by Goldberg’s statement during the campaign.
“Talagang nasaktan ako kasi election time eh. Ngayon, medyo okay na ako. Sino ba ang hindi magalit, election time tapos magbitaw ka ng salita na ganoon?” he said.
Washington summoned Filipino charge d’affaires Patrick Chuasato to explain Duterte’s remarks, which the US called “inappropriate and unacceptable.”
“We have seen reports of inappropriate and unacceptable comments made about Ambassador Goldberg, a multi-time ambassador and one of the U.S. Department of State’s most senior diplomats,” the embassy’s statement read.
On Wednesday, however, Duterte said his recent remarks against Goldberg should not affect the country’s strong ties with the US.
“We shouldn’t let the issue with the US ambassador go out of hand. I will reiterate our strong alliance with America,” Duterte said during his visit to a military camp in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.