Duterte apologises for abusing Obama, calls Trump good friend

Jerusalem Sep 3 (IANS) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during his speech to Filipino workers here on Sunday apologised for abusing former US President Barack Obama.
Referring to his stern language towards Obama in 2016 Duterte who arrived in Israel on September 2 on a four-day official visit said it would be appropriate to say at this time that "Obama you re a civilian. I am sorry for uttering those words".
At the same time he described Obama as a "cold" person who was "always at a distance" adding that the current US President Donald Trump is his "good friend" Sputnik news reported.
In 2016 Duterte warned Obama against questioning his extrajudicial drug-war-related killings of alleged criminals.

--IANS mag/sed