The president of the Philippines admitted Monday that he faked an illness at a major diplomatic summit to avoid an “awkward situation” with President Barack Obama.
During the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru in November, Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. stood in for President Rodrigo Duterte at several events.
Duterte cited a stomach bug as the reason for his absence. “My stomach was not good and I could have exploded anytime,” the president explained in November.
“I did not have a bum stomach; do not believe it. That was just an excuse,” Duterte reportedly revealed at the Peter Wallace Business Forum at Malacañang Monday. “I would not know how to react if he (Obama) would just push my hand.”
“Because I did not want to create a scene, an awkward situation, I just stayed on the sidelines,” the president added.
The relationship between Duterte and Obama has been rocky.
Duterte met Obama for the first time informally on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Laos in September. The formal meeting was cancelled after Duterte lashed out and called Obama a “son of a whore.”
The Philippine president said that a meeting at APEC might have been awkward because of their “very hot exchange” of words.
Duterte has cursed Obama multiple times in foul-mouthed tirades. In response to Obama’s lecturing and criticisms of Duterte’s drug war, which has left thousands dead and raised concerns about possible human rights violations, he told Obama to “go to hell.”
Angry at Obama, Duterte has moved closer to China and Russia and blasted the U.S. for its failure to respect him and his country.
The Philippines is one of America’s oldest allies in the Asia-Pacific region, however, the relationship has become less stable under Duterte. At one point, there were even suspicions that Duterte would tear up existing defense agreements.
The Philippine president seems to be getting along much better with Donald Trump, who may be able to put the relationship back on track after he takes office.
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