“Go To Hell Obama,” Says Philippine President Duterte

MEP: Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday has once again insulted the US President Barack Obama, telling him to “go to hell” in response to the US leader’s criticism of his deadly anti-drug campaign.

“Instead of helping us, the first to criticise is this State Department, so you can go to hell, Mr Obama, you can go to hell,” Duterte said in a speech in Manila.

Duterte said the United States had refused to sell some weapons to his country but he did not care because Russia and China were willing suppliers.

Mr. Duterte, who took office on June 30, began a war on drugs that has claimed about 3,000 lives, the Philippine authorities say.

Many of those killed were people suspected of dealing drugs who were gunned down by unknown assailants and left in the streets. The police say they have killed more than 1,200 drug sellers and users who resisted arrest.

In his latest salvo, Duterte said he had lost respect for the United States suggesting he may eventually decide to “break up with America”.

“If you don’t want to sell arms, I’ll go to Russia. I sent the generals to Russia and Russia said ‘do not worry, we have everything you need, we’ll give it to you’,” said Duterte.

“And as for China, they said ‘just come over and sign and everything will be delivered’.”