Duterte says many US envoys are spies, experts in undermining gov’ts

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday accused some ambassadors of the United States of being experts in undermining foreign governments.

Duterte made the remark in a television interview as he addressed the alleged "Goldberg blueprint," a supposed ouster plan attributed to former US Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

"In the matter of the credible news, maybe you may have an inkling on how this guy operates. Because most ambassadors of the United States, but not all, are not really professional ambassadors... at the same time they are spying. They are really connected to the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency]. Ganoon iyan," Duterte said.

"The ambassador of a country is the number one spy but there are ambassadors of the United States iyong forte nila is to undermine governments. That's what happened to Bolivia," he added.

While not "eagerly happy" that he became President, Duterte said he needed to "honor the contract with the Filipino people" who voted for him amid threats to oust him and calls to resign amid criticisms on his bloody drug war. 

"I'll probably give a good fight," Duterte said.

Panama's case

Duterte in another interview narrated how the US invaded Panama and captured its military dictator Manuel Noriega between 1989-1990.

"I also want to remind America that once upon a time, they blamed a country, Panama, for flooding America with drugs... They went to invade Panama, uprooted everything there, killing people," Duterte said.

"There was a fighting... Kinidnap nila si Noriega, dinala nila sa America. The guy went to trial, he was convicted. He is serving time in prison there. Ano ang deperensya sa akin? In a drug war, there's always casualties," he added. —NB, GMA News