US summons Philippine envoy over Duterte's comments vs Goldberg

MANILA, Philippines -- The US State Department has called the Philippine chargé d’affairés in Washington on "inappropriate" remarks that President Rodrigo Duterte made about US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.

 

In a briefing, Elizabeth Trudeau, US State Department Press Office director, told reporters in Washington, DC that the department is aware of comments that Duterte made about Goldberg in a speech in Cebu City on Aug.5.

 

"I would say two things on that. The first, specifically on the remarks, we’ve seen those inappropriate comments made about Ambassador Goldberg. He’s a multi-time ambassador, one of our most senior US diplomats. We have asked the Philippines charge to come into the State Department to clarify those remarks," she said. 

 

Although she refused to go into detail, Trudeau said the meeting was on "specific remarks that were made about our ambassador to the Philippines."

 

Last Friday, Duterte referred to Goldberg as "bakla" and "buwisit" over comments that the ambassador made on a controversial rape remark that Duterte made during the election campaign. He said that the US ambassador was meddling in Philippine politics.

 

Goldberg, without specifically mentioning Duterte, said then that "any statements by anyone, anywhere that either degrade women or trivialize issues so serious as rape or murder, are not ones that we condone."