PH to become isolated state if Duterte keeps up with slurs–solons

Minority lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Wednesday cautioned President Rodrigo Duterte from making snide remarks against the United States lest he wanted the country to become an isolated state.

During a press briefing, Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza said Duterte’s cursing US President Barack Obama and calling him a “son of a bitch” could cost the country’s diplomatic ties with its allies.

“I’m afraid that if we continue this kind of course, we might be isolating ourselves from the rest of the world,” Daza said.

“I hope that we don’t move out of the international stage, that we continue to be part of the world, to work our problems conscious of our international responsibilities as a state,” he added.

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said the President should be more cautious in inflaming other countries especially since the Philippines had shared interests with its allies.

“In this day and age, international cooperating is very important, considering the fact that countries right now are intertwined with each other, politically, diplomatically, and militarily,” Alejano said.

Alejano said the administration should not be focused only on its war on drugs and let this issue get in the way of its relationship with other states.

“We should not isolate ourselves just because of one issue. All I hear is about drugs. Lahat ng mga budget hearings, drugs ang sentro. Good governance is not only about drugs,” Alejano said.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice added that Duterte should undergo anger management to prevent this similar situation from happening.

He said he understood that Duterte may have reacted negatively when asked about a possible meeting with Obama on the spate of extrajudicial killings given the pressure he was already facing following the night market blast in his hometown Davao City that claimed 14 lives.

READ: P2-M reward for bomber | Bloody Friday in Davao 

Duterte had declared a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence to crack down on the perpetrators.

“Siguro kailgan din maisip ng ating Pangulo na he should be cool under pressure,” Erice said.

READ: What is state of lawless violence? |  So it’s now state of nat’l emergency in effect 

On Monday, Duterte called Obama a “son of a bitch” when asked during a press conference before his departure for the Asean summit in Laos about a possible discussion with the US president on the spate of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the country.

“You must be respectful. You just don’t throw question and statements. Putang ina, mumurahin kita sa forum na ’yan (Mother-whore, I’ll curse you in that forum),” Duterte answered.

READ: Recommended by Duterte to Obama: Don’t lecture me on rights, PH not a US colony | If Obama raises rights issues, Duterte says he will use ‘P’ word 

Duterte also called into account the United States’s role in killing hundreds of thousands of Muslims during the American occupation in the Philippines, saying the Philippines was no longer an American colony.

Duterte’s slur compelled Obama to call off the meeting set on Tuesday.

READ: Obama scraps meeting with Duterte–White House

On Tuesday, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar blamed the media for asking Duterte about a possible talk with Obama on the human rights situation in the country, which compelled the foul-mouthed leader to spew expletives.

“While the immediate cause (of the meeting’s cancellation) was my strong comments to certain press questions that elicited concern and distress, we also regret it came across as a personal attack on the US president,” Duterte’s statement read.

The meeting with Obama had been scheduled to a later date, the statement also said.

READ: Duterte expresses regret over Obama profane comment

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