Pubdate: Tue, 06 Sep 2016
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.utsandiego.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386
Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area.

OBAMA CANCELS MEETING WITH PHILIPPINES LEADER

HANGZHOU, China - After being called an obscenity by the president of 
the Philippines, President Barack Obama canceled a meeting with the 
leader, Rodrigo Duterte, scheduled for today.

Duterte had threatened to curse out the U.S. commander in chief if 
Obama raised the issue of extrajudicial killings by Philippine 
authorities in a sweeping crackdown on drug trafficking. Speaking to 
reporters, Duterte, who took office in June, said the Philippines is 
a "sovereign state and we have long ceased to be a colony," according 
to the Associated Press.

He added that: "I do not have any master except the Filipino people, 
nobody but nobody. You must be respectful. Do not just throw 
questions. 'Putang ina' I will swear at you in that forum." That is 
the Tagalog phrase for "son of a bitch" or "son of a whore."

Asked to respond during a news conference after the Group of 20 
Summit in China, Obama said earlier Monday that he had been told of 
Duterte's comments, but the U.S. president shrugged it off as another 
in a line of "colorful statements" from Duterte.

Hours later, Ned Price, a spokesman for the National Security 
Council, said that the meeting with Duterte on Tuesday afternoon had 
been canceled and that Obama would instead meet with South Korean 
President Park Geun-hye.

More than 2,000 suspected drug dealers have been killed since Duterte 
took office, and Obama earlier said he would not shy away from the 
topic of "international norms" when it comes to due process rights 
when speaking with Duterte.

THE WASHINGTON POST
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom