DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte said the government is maintaining its “strong alliance” with the United States and added that his tirade against US Ambassador Philip Goldberg should not be an issue on the alliance.
Duterte issued the assurance as he spoke to government troops in the military camp in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday, August 10, where he also disclosed of a plan to acquire high-grade military equipment and weapons.
“I reiterate our strong alliance with America,” he said.
“Pasagdii na lang nang tirade nako sa ilahang ambassador ka tinuod man na (Just leave my tirades against their ambassador because it’s true anyway), simply the truth,” Duterte said.
Duterte was referring to the campaign season remark where the US ambassador commented on the President’s remark on the rape-slay of an Australian missionary.
Duterte said that Goldberg has no business making the comment during the election time.
Meanwhile, Duterte said that he will not take his chance in buying armaments and equipment from other foreign country.
“We are going to use that for our intelligence apparatus. What if when they deliver it to us and they put something on it that will allow them to see what we are doing here. So I’m telling the Commission on Audit not to give me the lowest bid,” he said.
One of the sources of the military equipment will be the United States “whom we have an alliance militarily,” Duterte said. (davaotoday.com)
