Goldberg receives celebrity treatment in House

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. PCCO PHOTO

The American diplomat who was called a “gay son of a bitch” by President Duterte in August was mobbed like a celebrity at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Mr. Duterte’s allies were effusive in welcoming outgoing US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, who appeared in the House to receive the congressional Golden Mace Award.

For several minutes after accepting the honor, Goldberg, who was all smiles but looked otherwise subdued in a dark suit, was swamped by requests for handshakes and selfies.

Pangasinan Rep. Rosemarie Arenas gave Goldberg a full-body hug for several seconds and bussed him on the cheek.

Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, who towered over Goldberg, chatted with him for a while after taking a selfie with the ambassador.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas personally presented Goldberg with the award recognizing his “efforts in further enriching the ties” between the Philippines and the United States.

Under House Resolution No. 466 introduced by Alvarez, Fariñas, and Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, Goldberg, who was assigned to Manila in November 2013, was commended for his focus on humanitarian assistance and security matters.

The House leaders noted that it was on Goldberg’s watch that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement was signed between the United States and the Philippines, providing for “enhanced humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities,” on top of modernizing the Philippine military.

Goldberg also received praise for rushing immediately to Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte, shortly after his assignment to the Philippines to help deal with the aftermath of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in 2013.

Speaking to reporters after the conferment of the award, Goldberg said he was floored by the recognition, though the honor truly belonged to his country.

Asked to comment on Mr. Duterte’s personal attacks on him, Goldberg said: “I am a diplomat, and I don’t respond to those comments quite frankly.”