September 13, 2016

"The Philippines moved to shore up relations with the United States on Tuesday with guarantees that a treaty between them would be honored and security ties were 'rock solid', despite President Rodrigo Duterte's railings against Washington.

The firebrand leader launched more verbal salvos on Monday about what he called atrocities under American colonial rule, calling for the pullout of U.S. special forces stationed in the restive south that he said were complicating counter-insurgency operations.

Duterte is hugely popular at home for his brash remarks and take-charge style, but his frequent tirades against Washington, including calling both President Barack Obama and his ambassador to Manila a 'son of a bitch', have tested a relationship of strategic importance to both sides."

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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-usa-army-idUSKCN11J0CO