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President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday affirmed the strong alliance of the Philippines and the United States (US) amid his recent tirades against United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

鈥淧asagdi na lang na akong tirada sa ilang ambassador kay tinuod man na. Simply the truth at the time of election. Nganong muhatag man ka ug statement when the election is going on?鈥� Duterte said in a speech at the 1st Infantry Division in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

(Just ignore my tirade against their ambassador because they were true anyway. Simply the truth at the time of election. Why would he give a statement when the election is going on?)

Duterte reiterated that Goldberg should not have meddled into Philippine politics.

鈥淲ala kay labot diha. That is our business. Kampanya gud ito,鈥� he said.

(You should not have meddled. That is our business. It was the campaign season.)

The President was referring to the statement of Goldberg in response to Duterte鈥檚 remarks about the rape of an Australian missionary in 1989.

READ: US says Duterte鈥檚 鈥榖akla鈥� comment vs Goldberg 鈥榠nappropriate鈥�

At the height of the controversy, Goldberg had said that 鈥渟tatements by anyone, anywhere that either degrade women or trivialize issues so serious as rape or murder are not ones that we condone.鈥�

The chief executive earlier described the US envoy as 鈥済ay鈥� and annoying.

Department of State press director Elizabeth Trudeau as asked Filipino charge d鈥檃ffaires Patrick Chuasoto to explain Duterte鈥檚 鈥渋nappropriate comments.鈥�

READ: US summons PH envoy over Duterte鈥檚 鈥榖akla鈥� tag on Goldberg

Despite his tirades, Duterte acknowledged the Philippines鈥� strong alliance with the US.

The President vowed to provide the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with quality equipment, which would be sourced from few countries including the United States.

鈥淭here is only one source. Two or one. The United States with whom we have alliance militarily,鈥� he said.

鈥淏ut I will reiterate our strong alliance with America,鈥� he added. JE