‘Duterte violated no protocol in presenting Moro deaths before ASEAN, Obama’

President Rodrigo Duterte did not break any protocol when he launched into an impromptu tirade on the US' human rights violations against Moros in the 1900s, a retired diplomat said on Friday.

Retired Ambassador Lauro Baja Jr., a former permanent representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, said Duterte should not have raised the issue during the ASEAN-East Asia Summit in Vientiane.

"Kung nangyari 'yun, medyo hindi na proper na i-raise 'yun. Because what for? The US knows already what he said. The international community knows already because this is reported in the media. So my personal belief is hindi na sana inulit 'yun," he said in a report on "24 Oras."

Baja said as per diplomatic practice of moving forward, it is likely that the consequences of Duterte's strong statements would be "temporary."

He said, however, that it was inevitable for it to affect officials who directly interact with the US government.

Baja said Duterte should be careful next time and remember his position.

"Whatever he says will have some implications on the Filipinos, on the Philippines as a country. He must remember that he is the head of government and head of state already, not a Davao mayor or a Cabinet minister or whatever," Baja said.

Duterte said he disregarded a prepared intervention speech on Thursday and presented before the ASEAN-EA Summit pictures of slain Moros in Mindanao in the 1900s.

It was confirmed that Obama was in the said meeting.

A source of GMA News said that before leaving the room, the US president went around to shake hands with leaders of the member-nations except Duterte.

Duterte's tirade came after his brief encounter with Obama prior to Wednesday's ASEAN gala dinner, where they shook hands.

The gesture was seen to settle matters after the Philippine president's controversial pre-departure speech in Manila, where he cursed and said nobody could lecture him about extrajudicial killings and human rights, including Obama.

The White House cancelled Duterte's bilateral meeting with Obama, scheduled on Tuesday afternoon. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/NB, GMA News