MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay on Tuesday explained that when President Rodrigo Duterte said he "purposely did not attend" bilateral talks between Southeast Asian leaders and the United States, it was due to migraine and not anti-American sentiments.
He said he was informed at 2 a.m. ahead of the meeting that the president was not feeling well.
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"That's why he said that he was not going to attend purposely... He purposely did not attend both ASEAN+1 with India and ASEAN+1 and the United States because he was not feeling well," Yasay said in an interview over ANC's "Headstart."
Duterte on Monday said in a speech that he had no intention to attend bilateral talks with the US, a longtime Philippine ally.
"I did attend. But I purposely did not attend the bilateral talks between ASEAN countries and the ambassador of, the president of the United States. Talagang ini-skip ko 'yun," he said.
"I attend[ed] all others. 'Yung kay (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, may one-on-one ako, and the ASEAN and also the Chinese, I was there. The reason is not I am anti-West. The reason is not I do not like the Americans. It's simply a matter of principle for me."
Yasay at the beginning of the interview was asked by "Headstart" host Karen Davila regarding the president's statement but he said has yet to hear the comment.
After a clip of Duterte's speech was played, Yasay said the president's anger was coming from the lack of apology for the atrocities committed by the United States in the country.
The president's statement must be understood with the "entire context" in mind, he added.
Duterte has criticized the US for past atrocities, including the massacre of about 1,000 Moros in Bud Dajo in Sulu in 1906.
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