Duterte tells leaders to ‘lay off’ after Trudeau raises human rights in Philippines

Trudeau describes the meeting’s tone as ‘cordial,’ while Duterte says he was insulted

The president of Philippines had made clear he’s no fan of Justin Trudeau, telling a crowd he felt personally insulted after the Canadian prime minister raised human-rights concerns and the bloody drug war in the southeast Asian country.

Human rights activists have urged President Rodrigo Duterte to end his crusade against alleged drug dealers and addicts that groups say has left at least 7,000 dead.

Speaking to reporters in Manila at the end of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Trudeau described the talks as “cordial.”

Duterte had a different interpretation.

“I said, ‘I will not explain.’ It is a personal and official insult,” said the Philippines president recalling his conversation with Trudeau.

“It angers me when you are a foreigner you do not know exactly what is happening in this country. You do not investigate.”

During a closing press conference Duterte continued to come back to the issue of “foreigners.”

“I only answer to the Filipino. I will not answer to any other bullshit, especially foreigners. Lay off,” he said.

Trudeau said Canada has “a reputation for being able to have strong and frank, sometimes firm, discussions around the rule of law and human rights with its partners.

“It’s very much what people expect of Canada, and it comes as no surprise when we bring it up,” he said at the final news conference of his whirlwind eight-day swing through Asia.

“The president was receptive to my comments, and it was, throughout, a cordial and positive exchange.”