I requested the military to open their camps to allow people who would want to donate rehab houses. "I would rather go to Russian Federation and to China".
On Friday, UN Resident Coordinator and Development Program Resident Representative in the Philippines Ola Almgren was reported to have said relations between the world body and Manila remain undamaged.
He said Washington is focused on ensuring that assistance efforts truly benefit the people and are compliant with USA laws and regulations. The other side also takes our relationship for granted, and maybe we should reassess: Are we benefiting?
Duterte has cursed the USA and President Barack Obama directly in the past, along with other Western governments, for their critiques of his deadly drug war but had not officially chartered a change in policy for the relationship.
The diplomat recognized there were many things to be grateful to America for, but he argued that the "stark reality" shows the Philippines' defensive forces was "grossly incapable" in meeting the security threats that the nation faces from potential foes in relation to the disputed waters in the South China Sea.
"We tried to assure them the alliance is still there, it's just the President is so sensitive on comments on his war on terrorism and especially drugs", he said.
Ask for comment, Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Effir Ben Matityau told the media that they accepted the apology of President Duterte.
When asked if the current joint drill would be the last to be carried out, Major Hollenbeck said: "If it's the last, so be it". In 2015, the Philippines received $236m in U.S. aid.
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Duterte has given assurances that he would not abrogate a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the US and will maintain the long alliance with America, one of his country's largest trading partners and provider of development and military aid and defense equipment.
The former Davao city mayor has also stated his intention to foster better ties with China and Russian Federation, and revamping the Philippine foreign policy that has always been pro-Washington. "If Duterte moves to curtail US rotational military presence from bases in the Philippines, this would undermine the USA ability to deter China not only in defense of Philippines sovereignty but regional security as well".
Despite the hard stage in the country's relations with its former colonizer, Lorenzana remained optimistic that those ties would eventually bounce back.
In less than two months, he has called U.S. President Barack Obama a "son of whore", threatened to kick out about 600 U.S. troops based in the country, cancel all military exercises with the United States, and warned that his government could abandon its decades-old alliance with the Americans. "Much like you, we are relying on strong ties developed through our common endeavors as well as building effective relationships with new partners to ensure productive future cooperation", he said in his last official address to Americans doing business in the Philippines.
More than 3,680 people have been killed by police and unidentified attackers in the Philippines since June 30, when Duterte took office.
Firearms, ammunition and home-made bombs were discovered on Friday when security forces raided the house of the father of one of the arrested suspects in Mindanao province, Lorenzana said. But Lorenzana indicated the US forces would be asked to leave as soon as Philippine army troops could be trained to use surveillance drones.
A Philippine military spokesman for the ongoing exercises, Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, sidestepped the question of whether Duterte's remarks have affected the troops and the atmosphere of the drills.
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