President Rodrigo Duterte for the nth time slammed the United States early Saturday morning and told the country’s former colonizer “to get ready for the eventual repeal of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).”
Duterte’s remark was in response to the decision of the US foreign aid agency, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), to exclude the Philippines from receiving subsidies due to “concerns about the rule of law and civil liberties.”
“I understand that we have been stricken out by the Millennium Challenge [Corporation]? Well, good, I welcome it,” Duterte told the reporters upon his arrival in Davao City from his official state visits in Cambodia and Singapore.
He added that his administration is “glad” that the country is “free from proving anything to the United States.”
“Bye-bye, America,” Duterte said, mentioning that work will now begin on the protocols that will eventually move the United States out of the Philippines.
successful State Visit to Singapore on December 16, 2016. KING RODRIGUEZ/Presidential Photo
“If you can do this, so do it; it ain’t a one-way traffic,” he added.
He added he could seek China as an alternative source of funding. ”
China communicated to us. There giving us 50 billion [ currency not specified]. So what do I need America for? They did not look at us kindly; we have this huge problem,” he said and that the Philippines “can survive without American money.”
He also questioned what is the purpose of the US troops in the Philippines under VFA.
“We [Philippines] will never be ready to fight with China. It is you [United States] who is egging a fight there and we will never compete with Russia – that’s too far away. Besides, we are friends (with Russia),” he said.
The President said he “does not want to see foreign military troops” on the Philippine soil, regardless of their nationality.
Duterte added that Russia approached the Philippines and offered what he said was a “buy one, take one” deal, revealing that China has proposed to donate arms to the Philippines.
“China has been communicating with us every day, they said the guns are ready. It’s here; we want to give it to you,”
Duterte added that he has come to be “friends” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Russia can be a crucial ally – they do not insult people they do not interfere,” he explained.
Duterte also criticized the U.S. for making the Philippines as its colony from years 1898 to 1946.
“You stayed in my country for 50 years and made us a colony; you lived on the fat of the land. How dare you say you will cut the assistance and aid? We do not need it. You owe the Philippines an apology for all the massacres, especially the Moro of Mindanao. You’re the ones who owe us. You sat on my land for fifty years; oppressed us for fifty years,” Duterte stressed, citing Balangiga massacre in Samar during the Philippine-American War in 1901, where he said “all the male[s] above 10 (years old)” were killed.
The President also questioned the U.S. for interfering in the country’s internal affairs, saying that the Western Country should raise its concerns on the state of human rights in the Philippines through proper channels, such as the United Nations.
“When the report is there, you can call our attention and give us the right to be heard,” Duterte said.
