Push Admin

Bayan: Scrapped Obama-Duterte meeting 'not a big loss'

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/9/5/duterte-obama-090516.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and United States President Barack Obama.</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Tuesday shrugged off the cancellation of a meeting between US President Barack Obama and President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>&quot;The canceled meeting between US President Barack Obama and PH President Rodrigo Duterte is not a big loss as far as the Filipino people are concerned,&quot; Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said in a statement. </p><p>The White House has <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/05/16/obama-cancels-meeting-with-duterte-after-insult">cancelled</a> what is supposed to be the first meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Laos. This, after Duterte said he would <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/05/16/duterte-hits-us-anew-before-leaving-for-asean-summit]">curse at Obama</a> if the US leader raises his bloody war on drugs during their bilateral meeting. </p><div><span style="line-height:1.6">The spat comes at a crucial time in the Southeast Asia region, with China seeking to cement control over the contested South China Sea, an issue some hope will be discussed at the ASEAN Summit</span></div><p>Reyes, however, insisted that Washington would &quot;arm-twist&quot; the Philippines to promote its own agenda in the sea dispute issue. </p><p>&quot;Duterte can promote our interests in the West Philippine Sea vs China without having to rely on the US, who is only after its own agenda,&quot; the Leftist leader added. </p><p> An international tribunal ruled in July that Beijing&#x27;s claims to the waters -- through which $5 trillion in global shipping trade passes -- had no legal basis. China, however, has vowed to ignore the tribunal&#x27;s decision.</p><p>Under the Aquino administration, the Philippines had forged closer military ties with the United States to deal with the China threat. Duterte, however, has sought to heal relations with China rather than inflame them by pressing the tribunal&#x27;s ruling.</p><div><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/29/16/duterte-to-china-treat-filipinos-as-brothers-not-enemies">Duterte to China: Treat Filipinos as brothers, not enemies</a></div>

<p>Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Tuesday shrugged off the cancellation of a meeting between US President Barack Obama and President Rodrigo Duterte due to the Filipino leader's fiery rhetoric.</p><p> </p>

Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Tuesday shrugged off the cancellation of a meeting between US President Barack Obama and President Rodrigo Duterte due to the Filipino leader's fiery rhetoric.