Rodrigo Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte: US, Philippines alliance will remain

He also said there will be no joint military exercises with the US "next year" in a marked change from earlier statements where he insisted this year's drills would the last ever between the longtime allies.

US responds to Duterte's 'break up' threat

Duterte's latest remarks came just as the US and Philippines started joint military exercises -- perhaps for the last time.

The war drills began Tuesday in Manila and will last until October 12. Last week, Duterte said this round of joint drills with the US would be the last.

"I serve notice to you now that this will be the last joint military exercise with US," Duterte said.

 

'I will break up with America'

Duterte spokesman tries to clarify Philippines leader's Hitler remarks

"The President recognizes the deep significance of the Jewish experience especially their tragic and painful history," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said a statement. "We do not wish to diminish the profound loss of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust -- that deep midnight of their story as a people."

Abella said Duterte's opponents first brought up the Hitler reference before the May presidential election to "gain political mileage."

"The President's reference to the slaughter was an oblique deflection of the way he has been pictured as a mass murderer."

Duterte aide tries to clarify Hitler remarks

"The President recognizes the deep significance of the Jewish experience especially their tragic and painful history," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said a statement. "We do not wish to diminish the profound loss of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust -- that deep midnight of their story as a people."

Abella said Duterte's opponents first brought up the Hitler reference before the May presidential election to "gain political mileage."

"The President's reference to the slaughter was an oblique deflection of the way he has been pictured as a mass murderer."

Jewish leaders react to Rodrigo Duterte Holocaust remarks

The comment - wrongly citing numbers killed by the Nazis - was inhumane and deeply offensive, they said.

Mr Duterte said he would kill as many addicts as Hitler did Jews in his crackdown on users and dealers.

"Hitler massacred three million Jews... there's three million drug addicts. I'd be happy to slaughter them," he said.

Duterte on drug dealers: I can't kill them all

Duterte said Saturday he did not realize the severity of the problem until he became president. He's been accused of ordering or encouraging hundreds of killings of drug dealers and users since taking office in June.

"But the problem is ... I cannot kill them all ... even if I wanted to," he told reporters. "I did not have any idea that there were hundreds of thousands of people already in the drug business and what makes it worse is that they are operated now by people in government -- especially those elected positions."

 

Death squad

That 'awkward moment' when Obama met Duterte after 'whore' spat

On Tuesday Mr Obama cancelled planned talks after the firebrand Mr Duterte called him the "son of a whore".

Wednesday's informal meeting took place before an Asean summit gala dinner.

While a Philippine spokesman said he was "very happy" it happened, the US side said they had a "brief discussion" in a pre-meal "hold space" for leaders.

Mr Obama and Mr Duterte are said to have entered the dinner venue separately at the summit in Laos and did not interact with each other during the event, which lasted one hour and 20 minutes.

Obama, Duterte exchange 'pleasantries' after spat

A White House official said that Obama had a "brief discussion" with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ahead of a gala dinner in the Lao capital marking the beginning of the yearly ASEAN summit.

The meeting took place in a holding space for leaders, the official said, adding the "exchange consisted of pleasantries between the two."

Duterte was likely keen to clear the air after publicly scoffing earlier this week at suggestions that Obama would raise the issue of extrajudicial killings during their planned meeting.

Duterte's tongue the least of Obama's Philippine problem

A foul-mouthed outburst cost the new leader of Washington's key Pacific ally a chance to meet President Barack Obama in Laos on Tuesday. Duterte blasted Obama as a "son of a bitch" and warned he would not tolerate any violation of Philippines sovereignty he said such a question would entail, after which the White House canceled their planned parley.

Obama, Duterte and other notorious political insults

His controversial comments have led to diplomatic consequences with the US president cancelling a scheduled meeting with Mr Duterte.

But the Philippine leader, who has insulted prominent figures before, is not the only one guilty of offending world leaders.

From a "sadistic nurse" to "the devil" himself, here are some of the more memorable comments made by or about those in positions of power.

Arafat the 'son of 60,000 whores' (1999)