Obama says he doesn’t take Duterte’s comments personally

The exchange consisted of pleasantries between the two.

Asked for his views on the diplomatic furore – which at one point saw Mr Obama cancel a meeting with Mr Duterte after the Filipino leader referred to him as a “son of a whore” – Pacquiao’s position was clear.

He added that such choice words were “a habit, a way of speaking for him”.

In a message aimed at China’s aggressive posturing on the South China Sea, President Obama said: “We believe that bigger nations should not dictate terms to smaller nations, and that all nations should play by the same rules….” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the only concern the US has with Duterte is ensuring there is a commitment to due process, and that the overall relationship between the two nations remains solid. On a trip to Asia a year ago, Obama announced new defense and security partnerships and investments. More than 2,000 people have killed in the crackdown since he took office on June 30. Shortly before he left office, Aquino agreed to allow USA forces access to five Philippine military bases – opening the way to what would be the most significant American military deployment in the Southeast Asian nation since the US was forced to close its own military bases there a quarter-century ago.

Obama’s remarks came at the end of a grueling nine-day trip that took the him to Laos and China following US stops in Nevada, Hawaii and Midway Atoll, a USA -controlled coral reef in the Pacific Ocean. He did not provide details of the discussion, including exactly how long it lasted. “I am the president of a sovereign country and I am not answerable to anyone except the Filipino people”, he proclaimed before traveling to Laos for the summit. He threatened to swear at Obama if the president raised the matter.

A formal meeting between the leaders was cancelled after the spat, though Mr Duterte later expressed regret for his comments.

It’s a rough few days for Duterte. That campaign has reportedly left thousands of people dead.

The spat with Duterte stolen attention away form Obama’s final trip to Asia as president, in which he hoped to cement his administration’s effort to “rebalance” US foreign policy toward the region.

According to his spokesman, Duterte had suffered a severe migraine.

The Philippine president then “showed a picture of killings by the American soldiers”, an Indonesian diplomat said.

Foreign investors are increasingly cutting ties with the Philippine stock market as President Rodrigo Duterte proves himself to be more and more of a loose cannon.

Multiple news outlets in Philippines reported that Duterte’s daughter had recently suffered a miscarriage.

Andanar did not confirm or deny the rumour and declined to comment saying it was a family matter of the president.