Duterte reiterates his statement that Philip Goldberg, the United States Ambassador to the Philippines, is “gay.” He then follows up with a question on whether there was anything wrong with being labelled “gay” in his speech at the Malacañang on Tuesday, October 11, after the oath taking of the new appointees together with the officers of the League of Municipalities.
He calls him gay for the second time as he recalls their dispute on his controversial statement regarding the rape of an Australian missionary back in 1989, which he thoughtlessly said at a campaign rally.
The two’s disagreement started when Goldberg supported Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely’s reaction that making light of rape and murder should never be done.
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The President contended that these envoys had no right to stick their noses into the issue even stating that: “Well, totoo naman ang sinabi ko and had started the ruckus. Siya because he rode onto a statement of mine that was a narration of a true event.”
Goldberg, on the other hand, has decided to pay no mind to Duterte’s slur and goes on to say, “I’m a diplomat. I don’t respond to those comments, quite frankly”, in a press conference following his receipt of a commendation at the House of Representatives. Goldberg received the Golden Mace Award from Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Floor Leader Rudy Fariñas, who are known to be the President’s loyal allies, as recognition of his efforts to solidify the US and the Philippines ties.
Goldberg believes that the best thing to do as of the moment is continue to fortify the longstanding friendship and ties between the two countries and responding to the President’s outburst would only be counterproductive. “I think that it’s better to focus on the work we can do together”, he supplements and we can only hope that the President realizes this to be true.
Sources: (gmanetwork.com, globalnation.inquirer.net)
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