Analyst: Duterte's comments vs US a sign of independence

President Rodrigo Duterte's rhetoric against the United States was his way of telling the international community that the Philippines is an independent player and not merely a puppet of the United States, said an analyst on Monday.

"I think he did it for a purpose, and that is to define an independent policy, which I think he is trying to send a message to the US because of our special relationship, that under his presidency, the US won't have that special treatment," said Ramon Casiple, executive director of Institute for Political and Electoral Reform.

Casiple told Mornings@ANC that this tactic opened doors to other countries, such as China, to hold talks with the Philippines.

"It's sending a message, for example, to some of his fellow presidents or leaders in the ASEAN that he is his own man. That is also a message that can be interpreted by the Chinese that we are not US, we can talk with you; and that's also sending a message to the US that you do not have to treat us the way you treated the past administration," he said.

Before leaving for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Laos, Duterte made headlines after he made expletive-laden remarks when asked in a press conference about US President Barack Obama's plan to discuss with him the human rights situation in the Philippines.

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The remarks prompted the White House to cancel what could have been the first meeting between Duterte and Obama on the sidelines of the summit.

[embed link in 'cancel': http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/05/16/obama-cancels-meeting-with-duterte-after-insult ]

Duterte's spokesmen have since said that the president regrets the statements, and that the two sides agreed to move the meeting to a later date.

[embed link in 'regrets: http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/06/16/duterte-regrets-comments-vs-obama-hopes-to-resolve-spat]

Duterte later clarified that he did not curse Obama, and Obama said he did not take the expletive personally.

[embed link in 'did not curse': http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/09/09/16/duterte-denies-cursing-obama]

[embed link in 'did not take': http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/08/16/obama-i-didnt-take-dutertes-cursing-personally]

Casiple said he believes, however, that Duterte does not intend to make an enemy of the US, and that his outburst will have no major impact in current ties between Manila and Washington.

"I think the foreign policy changes do not come from personal relations; it comes from national interests, and I don't think US interest at this point in time requires antagonizing the Philippine president. On the other hand, Philippine national interest requires that we have close relationship with the US. It's really a question of balancing," he said.

Though he agreed that Duterte administration is being kinder to Japan, he noted that the president "wants to be seen as an independent player on the regional and international stage, that he can be friends with all."

"I don't think he wants to make an enemy of anyone or any other country, but the way he wants it is on his terms. Meaning, they recognize the Philippines as an independent foreign country with its own policy," he said.

The Philippine leader, said Casiple, is trying to make his own way in the international arena.

"The problem, I think, with the Duterte administration is you don't know what they'll be doing until he does it. Whenever he makes a pronouncement, you have to be wary that he will change that the next day," he said.

"That kind of unpredictability, of course, brings disquiet into the many relationships, but at the same time puts the other countries on their toes," he added.