Meeting Between Obama and Philippine President Canceled After Duterte's Insults

The White House has announced the cancellation of a meeting between Barack Obama, the President of the United States, and Rodrigo Duterte, the President of the Philippines. Duterte stated that the U.S. cannot comment on the extrajudicial killings of drug dealers in his country and referred to Obama as a "son of a whore." According to U.S. media reports, White House officials had indicated that Obama intended to discuss the current situation regarding drug dealers and their extrajudicial killings during the meeting with his Filipino counterpart. The U.S. President mentioned to reporters, "It is always important for me that if I meet someone, there is a productive outcome from that meeting." Reuters reported that Obama had asked his aides to talk with Filipino officials to find a time for a meeting where they could have a "constructive and fruitful negotiation." Since Duterte took office, reports indicate that hundreds of small-time and major drug dealers have been killed in street shootings in the Philippines. These killings occur without judicial process, mainly carried out by individuals whose faces are covered and are said to be government forces. The situation has faced criticism from human rights organizations in recent weeks. Reports suggest that the U.S. President was also supposed to discuss this issue with the controversial Philippine President, Duterte. However, Duterte's response to the reports was, "Who does he think he is? I am not America's puppet. I am the President of an independent country and I am only accountable to the Filipino people." Duterte further stated in his speech on Monday, September 6, "Son of a whore! I will insult you." The meeting between Obama and Duterte was scheduled to take place this week in Laos, where the U.S. President will meet with other Southeast Asian leaders. Duterte assumed power in the Philippines at the end of June (two months ago). Manila is considered one of Washington's key allies in the region. This is not the first time the newly elected Philippine President has made controversial statements. Previously, in a speech, he told his citizens, "If your work involves drugs and you are not willing to quit, I must apologize to your families because you will surely be killed. If you are addicted to shabu (methamphetamine), there is no cure for you." In another statement, he said, "If you are a journalist, and if you are a son of a whore, you are not exempt from being killed." In April of this year, regarding the rape and murder of an Australian missionary in Davao City, where he was mayor, he said, "I was very angry that she was raped. That is one thing. But she was very beautiful; I think the mayor should have been first in line. What a waste." He also threatened women who had complained about him, saying, "They will pay for it." The Philippine President referred to John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, saying that the U.S. ambassador in Manila is "a gay son of a whore." Duterte also called Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, a "son of a whore" after getting stuck in traffic caused by his visit to Manila, and he refused to apologize, asking him not to come back to his country. The Philippines is one of the most religiously Catholic countries in the world.