Palace: Duterte thanks Obama for expressing support for PHL during G20 Summit in China

Palace: Duterte thanks Obama for expressing support for PHL during G20 Summit in China


Malacañang on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte thanked US President Barack Obama for expressing his support for the Philippines during the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, pointing out that the US stressed the importance for China to follow international laws.


"President Duterte today affirmed that he continues to value the alliance with the United States, noting that both our countries share common goals in their pursuit of the war against drugs, terrorists, crime and poverty," the statement said as read by Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar to reporters in Vientiane, Laos.


"He also thanked President Obama for the United States' firm support for the Philippines during the G20, where President Obama emphasized the importance for China to abide by its obligation under international law and underscored the United States' unwavering commitment to the security of its treaty allies," Andanar read.

The statement came after Obama canceled his meeting with Duterte earlier set on Tuesday afternoon following the latter's strongly-worded response on how he intends to discuss extrajudicial killings and human rights with other heads of state, like the US President, at the margins of the ASEAN Summit. 

Duterte then issued a statement saying he regrets that his strong words were seen as a personal attack on Obama when he was just stressing independent foreign policy. 

He said that the meeting between Philippines and United States has been moved to a later date. — RSJ, GMA News