Duterte’s latest version on missing the Apec gala and photo op from VERA Files on Vimeo.
This time, it’s supposed to be the “truth.”
President Rodrigo Duterte, at the Wallace Business Forum dinner in Malacanang Dec. 12, said he skipped the the gala dinner and photo shoot during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Peru in November to avoid an “awkward” encounter with US President Barack Obama.
Duterte said:
I asked Yasay to stand in for me. I was there, I attended the meetings actually. Do not believe those idiots there outside. But you know, Obama was there. And because we are in exchange of words, I was just trying to avoid an awkward situation. I would not know if you would accept my gesture of a handshake, or me, deliberately getting out of the way to avoid him. And you can tell it by just looking at the body language of people. You would know, and because I did not want to create a scene, an awkward situation, I just stayed on the sidelines.
“That’s the truth,” the president said.
Source: RTVM: Wallace Business Forum Dinner with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte– President’s Hall, Malacanang, Dec. 12, 2016 (Watch: 1:59:47 to 2:02:02)
FLIP-FLOP
Avoiding meeting Obama is Duterte’s third version explaining his absence at the two traditional APEC events. (See: VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Duterte flip-flops on missing APEC dinner and photo shoot))
First, he blamed jet lag. Three days later, and in a much more colorful and descriptive explanation, the president said he had an upset stomach. He said:
Saan ninyo ako gustong magpuririt (Where do you expect me to take a dump)? Doon sa stage o doon sa — the hotel was just about 10 minutes away. My stomach was not good and I could have exploded anytime.
Sources:
RTVM: Press Conference – Lima, Peru. Nov. 21, 2016 (Watch: 4:34 to 5:49)
RTVM: Ambush Interview – Davao City. Nov. 24, 2016 Watch 14:36 to 15:51)
