"I am asking the Filipino in the coming days, 'If the America would really make true of [cutting ties with the Philippines], I'm going to ask you to sacrifice a little bit," Duterte said after he inspected the mega shabu laboratory at the foothill of Mt. Arayat in Pampanga.
Duterte made the statement as he hinted that the US may severe ties with the Philippines, following his series of tirades against its officials and latest pronouncement that he might "cross the Rubicon" with the America.
The President has lamented that the US seemed to have a lack of support with the Philippines, even though they are allies for a long time.
While he clarified that he would not cut ties with the US, Duterte confirmed that he will pursue an alliance with other countries like China and Russia.
"By next year, I would have entered an alliance with so many countries," the 71-year-old chief executive said.
In a press conference held earlier in the day, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said there was nothing wrong if the Philippine government would accept any assistance from China and Russia.
He said the Duterte administration has to entertain all possibilities in pursuit of best interest of the country.
"The President is saying -- based on what I understand -- that if there is an offer from other countries, such as China and Russia, insofar as let’s say engaging our country with trade relationship and such other arrangements or assistance that they’re willing to offer, we should not be arrogant to reject it,” Yasay said.
“You know, we have to pursue that because this is precisely in pursuance of our national interest,” he added.
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