Duterte takes swipe at US envoy

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has yet to get over a reproach during the campaign period from outgoing US ambassador Philip Goldberg, whom he called “bakla (gay)” and who he obviously dislikes.                                                                   

In a speech before soldiers in Cebu the other day, Duterte related how he quarreled with Goldberg during the campaign, apparently over the latter’s criticizing the then presidential candidate’s joking about the rape and murder of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill during a 1989 Davao City prison riot.

“I am okay with him,” he said, referring to US Secretary of State John Kerry, who visited the country recently. “Nag-away kami ng ambassador niyang bakla...Buwisit ako diyan (I quarreled with his gay ambassador. I am pissed with him),” the President said.

“He meddled during the election, giving statements here and there. He was not supposed to do that,” he added.

Duterte’s rape remarks drew widespread condemnation but did little to pull down his popularity ratings.