Duterte's tirade vs. Obama 'wrong on so many levels' –Trillanes

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for his strong words against US President Barack Obama, which prompted the American leader to cancel their supposed bilateral meeting in Laos.

Trillanes, a staunch critic of the president, said Duterte's actions were uncalled for and could weaken the country's security.

"President Duterte's vulgar language directed against President Obama is wrong on so many levels and will definitely have detrimental effects on our diplomatic relationship and alliance with the US," he said in a statement.

"You don't just slap the face of the most powerful country in the world and expect to get away with it," added Trillanes, a former military officer involved in several failed coup attempts against the Arroyo administration.

On Monday, Duterte, a plain-spoken populist known for his colorful remarks and his campaign against illegal drugs in which thousands of people have died, lashed at Obama during a press briefing in Davao City before leaving for Laos for the ASEAN Summit.

In the briefing, Duterte said he does not owe Obama any explanation regarding the issues on extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses hounding his three-month-old administration.

Obama learned about the insult as he emerged from the Group of 20 Summit in Hangzhou, China. He eventually cancelled what would have been his first meeting with the Philippine chief executive.

Duterte has since expressed regret for his statements against Obama. —KBK, GMA News