Oh-That ‘awkward moment’ when Obama met Duterte after ‘whore’ spat

US President Barack Obama and Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte had a short face-to-face encounter, days after an extremely public spat.

Wednesday’s informal meeting happened before an Asean summit gala dinner.

While a Philippine spokesman said he was “really happy” it occurred, the US side said they had a “brief discussion” in a pre-meal “hold space” for leaders.

Mr Obama and Mr Duterte are said to have entered the dinner place singly at the summit in Laos and did not interact with each other during the event, which lasted 20 minutes and one hour.

“They were the last people to leave the holding room. I can’t say how long they met,” Philippine Foreign

Secretary Perfecto Yasay, travelling with Mr Duterte, told reporters soon after.

“I am really happy that it occurred.”

A White House official said the pair traded “pleasantries” in a “simple discussion” before dinner.

War on drugs

“You must be respectful. Don’t simply throw away questions and statements. Son of a whore, I am going to curse you in that forum,” Mr Duterte said, seemingly in reference to the US president.

The controversial Filipino leader later expressed regret over the comments, but not before Mr Obama had cancelled a planned meeting.

Mr Duterte won the presidency with his hard line policy to eradicate drugs and some 2,400 people have died in anti-drug operations since he took office in June

He’d previously advocated citizens to shoot to kill drug dealers who resisted arrest, and threatened to “separate” from the UN after it called his war on drugs a crime under international law.

But the president also offers staunch support at home for his hardline position on drugs.