With the upcoming US Presidential Elections, President Duterte was asked who he would prefer as the next United States President between Republican candidate Donald Trump and the Democratic Party’s Hillary Clinton.
The particular question was who he would get along with in the White House but instead of giving a direct answer, Duterte on Friday, October 21, just said that his favorite hero was Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I would like to answer your question candidly, honestly, and truthfully. Problem is, personally, it doesn’t really matter much. But I’m a president of a country, and we have splendid relation with America,” Duterte said as an answer to a CNN reporter’s question upon his arrival in Davao from Beijing.
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“And the fact that there are millions of Filipinos in your country… I cannot gamble an answer. Because either way, it would affect… they might create hostility and antagonism here. I’m better off in saying that my favorite hero is Putin,” Duterte further explained.
A follow up question was asked by the CNN journalist about his thoughts on being compared to US Presidential candidate Donald Trump because of the way they talk.
Duterte said that the issues raised by Trump were “valid issues.”
“Valid issues, actually. Trump is airing something which should be a concern. One is terrorism. Everybody should be worried of terrorism. Terrorism is there, and frankly speaking, I’d like to be honest with you… America somehow, not all, somehow proved to be the reason for the terrorism there right now,” he said.
Furthermore, Duterte clarified his previous statement about cutting ties with the US that it was not a severance of ties but a realignment of foreign policy that is not dependent on America.
“It is to the best interest of the country that we maintain that relationship (with US),” Duterte said.
Source: (globalnation.inquirer.net)
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