Palace says PHL-US alliance remains strong despite gay remark

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): Palace says PHL-US alliance remains strong despite gay remark

Malacanang on Thursday said the alliance between the Philippines and the United States will remain strong despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark calling US ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg a gay.

”Regarding Goldberg statements, this is to assure each and every one that the Philippine-US alliance remains strong,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing.

Abella said President Duterte has just made a statement affirming that the relationship between the Philippines and the US remains strong.

He said Philippine Charge d’Affaires to Washington D.C. Patrick Chuasoto had made representation for President.

”They have already explained their situation. The explanations have been properly made” Abella said.

When asked if everything has been settled, Abella answered: ‘I assume.’

In his speech before the military soldiers in Cebu City last Friday, President Duterte called Goldberg gay for supposedly meddling in Philippine politics.

”First and foremost, it was not meant to be a public statement. It was addressed to a certain audience and the comments are confined specifically to that audience,” Abella explained.

US State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Tradeau found President Duterte’s remark “inappropriate.”

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=912863