VIENTIANE – Hours after US President Barack Obama cancelled their scheduled meeting, President Duterte expressed regret yesterday that his tirade against the leader of the most powerful nation came across as a personal attack. “While the immediate cause 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 said in a statement read by Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1But the President softened his tone after Washington’s announcement of the cancelation of the bilateral meeting. In the statement, Duterte stressed the war on drugs and criminality should be won to ensure the people’s rights and liberties are protected and preserved. Presidential peace adviser Jess Dureza said Duterte was not surprised when the White House called off his bilateral meeting with Obama.

Source: Philippine Star September 06, 2016 16:25 UTC