President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to terminate a pact that allows U.S. troops to visit the Philippines as he reacted with rage to what he thought was a U.S. decision to scrap a major aid package over human rights concerns.
A U.S. government aid agency said this week that its board deferred a vote on a renewal of the development assistance package for the Philippines “subject to a further review of concerns around rule of law and civil liberties.”
READ MORE: Philippines’ President Duterte labels US ‘sons of bitches’ over aid review
Duterte, whose administration has been criticized by Washington over a bloody crackdown on illegal drugs, unleashed a barrage of expletives-laden tirade.
He said the Philippines can do without U.S. aid, called Americans “sons of bitches” and “hypocrites,” while praising China for offering what he said was a huge financial assistance.