Duterte to US: Count us out in whatever expeditions, wars you’ll conduct

March 21, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Wednesday to "count the Philippines out" in any war that the United States would be spearheading.

Duterte lamented that in all of the Washington-led wars that Manila joined, the Filipinos did not benefit from them.

"I'm addressing America right now. Whatever expeditions that you will conduct, any wars that you will fight in any other countries, count us out," he said in a speech during the  39th commencement exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy "Maragtas" Class of 2018 in Cavite.

"We didn't get anything all these years of sacrifice except brutality and agony. We will stand on our own even if we don't have money," he said, adding in jest that he would order the printing of money, five sacks for each Filipino.

"And we will never beg for any help. Sometimes it would demean really the dignity of the people," Duterte stressed.

When Duterte assumed the presidency, he said the Philippines would distance itself from the US and would follow an independent foreign policy.

He had castigated America, including then President Barack Obama, when it raised concern over his bloody war on drugs.

He even called Obama "son of a whore."

Dutete, on the other hand, has shown warm relations with President Donald Trump, who praised his war on drugs. Celerina Monte/DMS