President Rodrigo R. Duterte welcomes United States of America Ambassador Philip Goldberg at the Music Room in Malacañan Palace on July 19. Presidential Photographers Division/King Rodriguez
MANILA, Philippines — There are no discussions to withdraw or suspend financial aids to the Philippines despite the remarks of President Rodrigo Duterte against Ambassador Philip Goldberg, United States Department of State spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said on Wednesday.
The US Department of State summoned the Philippines' charge d'affaires in Washington to clarify the remarks of Duterte.
"The first, specifically on the remarks, we’ve seen those inappropriate comments made about Ambassador Goldberg. He’s a multi-time ambassador, one of our most senior U.S. diplomats. We have asked the Philippines charge to come into the State Department to clarify those remarks," Trudeau said in a press briefing on Monday.
Following the meeting on Wednesday, Trudeau refused to give details about the meeting between the US Department of State and the Filipino envoy.
Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose confirmed that the Philippines' charge d'affaires in Washington was invited to the State Department to discuss the entire Philippines-US relations.
"We cannot, however, discuss details of the conversion. What I can tell you is that PH-US relations remain strong," Jose said in a statement.
In a speech before soldiers in Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu City last Friday, Duterte openly called Goldberg a "gay" and "a son of a bitch."
"Kaya nga sabi ko nung si (US Secretary of State John) Kerry, kasama kami ni (Defense) Secretary, si Delfin (Lorenzana), kausap namin si Kerry. Okay naman siya kasi, nag-away kami ng ambassador niya (Philip Goldberg). 'Yung ambassador niyang bakla, p*****i**, buwisit ako diyan. Nakikisali doon sa election, giving [a] statement," Duterte said.
In an interview with The Manila Times in March at the height of election campaigns, Goldberg said that the US will stay out of politics but hinted that "continuity is better than change" which is contrary to Duterte's campaign slogan, "Change is coming."
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