Cuisia hoping Duterte’s gay slur versus Goldberg won’t affect PHL-US ties

President Rodrigo Duterte's remarks against US Ambassador Philip Goldberg were inappropriate, said the Philippines' former ambassador to Washington.

In a report on "24 Oras," Jose Cuisia, the former Philippine ambassador, said Goldberg was US President Barack Obama's representative in Manila and was the top US official in the country.

"It's an inappropriate comment but I hope it will not affect the relationship," Cuisia said.

"We get a lot of assistance from the us, both military and economic assistance," he added.

The US Department of State earlier this week summoned the Philippines' charge d'affaires in Washington, Patrick Chuasoto, to explain what it called "inappropriate comments" that Duterte made against Goldberg.

In a speech delivered last week at Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu City, Duterte called Goldberg “bakla” or “gay” for comments the envoy made during the campaign.

On Wednesday said his tirade against Goldberg should be ignored, even as he expressed confidence about the strength of the country's alliance with the superpower.

"Pasagdi na lang na akong tirada sa ilang ambassador kay tinuod man na. Simply the truth at the time of election. Nganong muhatag man ka ug statement when the election is going on (Just ignore my tirade against their ambassador because they were true anyway. Simply the truth at the time of election. Why would he give a statement when the election is going on)?" Duterte said.

"Wala kay labot diha. That is our business. Kampanya gud ito (You should not have meddled. That is our business. It was the campaign season)," he added. —NB, GMA News