Ibinunyag ng Pangulo na sinadya niyang hindi daluhan ang summit ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at United States sa Laos, Vientiane kamakailan.
“I purposely did not attend the bilateral talks between ASEAN countries and the president of the United States,” ani Duterte sa presentation ceremonies ng 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos sa Malacañang.
“The reason is not I am anti-West. The reason is not I do not like the Americans. It is simply a matter of principle for me,” ani Duterte.
Magugunita na sinabi ng Malacañang noon na ‘sumama’ ang pakiramdam ng Pangulo kaya hindi ito nakadalo sa ASEAN-US summit. (Elena L. Aben)