President Duterte revealed that leaders of Russia and China have expressed willingness to help the Philippines after he complained to them about the United States.
In a speech at the opening of the 37th Masskara Festival in Bacolod City Sunday, Duterte said he had a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Laos last month.
“I’m revealing it to you now. Nakiusap ako na ganito ang sitwasyon, pinapahirapan ako nito at binababoy ako ng mga walanghiya,” said the President.
Duterte did not give further details of his meeting with Medvedev, except that the Russian Prime Minister told him that is really how the Americans are and Russia is willing to help him.
“Sabi niya ganun talaga ang Amerika, so istorya kami ‘Sige, tulungan ka namin’,” said Duterte.
He said that China also told him to side with them. “Ito namang China sabi niya, ‘lumipat ka na sa akin, wala kayong makuha diyan,’ he narrated.
“So I’m going to China to make friends with them and also with Russia,” said the President as he announced that he would give a policy in the coming days.
Duterte has repeatedly lashed at the US, as well as the United Nations and the European Union, for criticizing his bloody war against illegal drugs. He said the Americans and the two international bodies castigate him over alleged extrajudicial killings in the country without even bothering to investigate.
Because of this, the President has announced that he is opening up another front in the country’s foreign policy.
“Kung ganun kabastos ang ginawa mo, sabi ko hiwalay-hiwalay na lang tayo…I am going to China to make friends with them and also with Russia,” he said. “Kung kayo Americans galit kayo sa akin, galit din ako sa inyo,” Duterte added. (Elena L. Aben)
