Philippines’ Duterte tells worried foreign businesses to pack up and go

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures at Manila airport prior to boarding his flight for a three-day official visit to Japan. Bullit Marquez / AP Photo

TOKYO // President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday urged foreign businesses in the Philippines worried about his deadly drug war to “pack up and leave”, as he launched another anti-American tirade before flying to Japan to attract investments.

Mr Duterte voiced outrage at comments the previous day by the top US envoy to Asia that his fiery rhetoric and crime war, which has claimed about 3,700 lives in four months, were bad for business.

“These Americans are really crazy. Their style is to walk here. They think they are somebodies,” Mr Duterte said, as he held up a newspaper with headlines reporting the criticism from US assistant secretary of state Daniel Russel.

“Russel says ‘Duterte comments causing worries in business communities’. Then you pack up and leave. We will recover, I assure you.”

Mr Duterte then flew to Japan, one of the top US allies in Asia, for a three-day visit that is partly aimed at building on two-way trade of more than $18 billion dollars last year.

“With Japan as the Philippines’ top trading partner, I shall seek the sustainment and further enhancement of our important economic ties,” Duterte, 71, said in prepared remarks at Manila airport.

“I look forward to meeting business leaders in Japan. I will tell them clearly that the Philippines is open for business.”

Mr Duterte will meet prime minister Shinzo Abe and have an audience with Emperor Akihito during the trip, which follows his headline-grabbing state visit to China last week.

Mr Duterte announced in Beijing the Philippines’ “separation” from the United States, throwing into doubt a 70-year alliance that is anchored on a mutual defence treaty.

He quickly walked back from his comments after returning from China, saying “separation” did not mean he would “sever” ties and that the US alliance would continue.

But his anti-American vitriol also continued.

Mr Duterte said Tuesday he was not a “lapdog” of the United States, and again voiced anger at American and European criticism of apparent extrajudicial killings on his watch.

“You are a son of a whore,” he said referring to his critics.

“Do not make us dogs. Do not. As if I am a dog with a leash and then you throw bread far away that I cannot reach.”

Mr Duterte has previously branded US President Barack Obama a “son of a whore” and told him to “go to hell”.

Mr Russel, the US envoy, said after meeting foreign aecretary Perfecto Yasay on Monday that many people around the world were becoming increasingly worried about the Filipino president’s tirades.

“The succession of controversial statements, comments and a real climate of uncertainty about the Philippines’ intentions have created consternation in a number of countries,” Mr Russel said.

“Not only in mine and not only among governments, but also growing concern in other communities, in the expat Filipino community, in corporate boardrooms as well.”

Japan, which is wary of China’s rising influence in the region, signalled it would be looking for clarification from Mr Duterte about his foreign policy plans.

“It is important to have good communication and to listen directly to what Mr Duterte has in mind,” Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida said when asked about the leader’s comments on ties with Washington.

Mr Abe had worked to improve bilateral relations with Mr Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino.

Japan provided patrol boats to support the Philippines in its territorial row with Beijing over rival claims to the South China Sea, as it sought backing in its own maritime dispute with China.

Mr Aquino took Beijing to an international tribunal over its extensive claims in the South China Sea — where it has built artificial islands capable of hosting military facilities — and the Philippines won a resounding victory in July.

But Mr Duterte has sought not to use the verdict to anger China, instead worked to improve ties and attract billions of dollars in Chinese loans and investments.

* Agence France-Presse