Cover image via SAYS PH
It all started when President Barack Obama was supposed to meet President Rodrigo Duterte for the first time at the East Asia Summit forum in Laos
When asked during a press conference if Obama will discuss the drug-killings with Duterte at the forum, he told the media that they recognized the significant burden that the drug trade play is not just in the Philippines, but around the world.
President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference following the conclusion of the G20 summit in Hangzhou on Sept. 5, 2016.
Image via Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
But, according to Obama, there should be an assertion for the need to have a due process to engage in the fight against drugs that is consistent with basic national norms.
"**Undoubtedly, if and when we have a meeting, this is something that's gonna be brought up. And my expectation, my hope, is that it can be dealt with constructively**," said President Obama in a [press conference] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJk1wxPlYMY).
Obama has also established that historically, the United States of America's relationship with the Philippines has been one of the most important
"My relationship with the Philippine people's been extraordinarily warm and productive. So, I expect that will continue. But, I wanna make sure that the setting is right and the timing is right for us to have the best conversation possible. **The issues of how we approach fighting crime and drug-trafficking is a serious one for all of us and we gotta do it the right way**," said President Obama.
When media asked if President Duterte's controversial remarks about rape, journalists and vigilante killings would be on Obama's agenda…
White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said, "**We absolutely expect (President Obama) will raise concerns about some of the recent statements from the President of the Philippines.**"
Ben Rhodes, the White House deputy national security advisor, described President Barack Obama's trip to Asia starting this week.
Image via Kevin Dietsch/UPI
After knowing that Obama will raise the extrajudicial killings issue in the said forum, Duterte furiously replied on 5 September, saying:
"**Who is he? I am no American puppet. I am a President of a sovereign country and we have long ceased to be a colony. I do not have any master except the Filipino people**," said Duterte to Obama.
Image via CNN
"You must be respectful. Do not just throw away questions and statements. Son of a bitch, I'll curse you in front of that forum," added the Philippine President.
Here's President Duterte's full statement:
Major local and international news sites, however, left this part of Duterte's statement when he asked this rhetorical question to Obama and the media:
"**Can he explain the 600,000 Moro massacred in this island?**"
US soldiers pose with the bodies of Moro insurgents, Philippines, 1906.
Image via Rare Historical Photos
President Duterte was actually referring to the Moro massacre that happened in March 1906 under United States Army General Leonard Wood's ruling
In 1906, instead of allowing the Americans to colonize Jolo, Sulu (located at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)), the Tausug people migrated to the mountains of *Bud Dajo*. General [Leonard Wood] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Wood) then ordered the American soldiers to attack and rain bullets using mortar and machine guns. The battle lasted for three days.
In estimation, 600,000 people were killed including kids, women and elderly people.
The March 11, 1906 New York Times headlines read: "WOMEN AND CHILDREN KILLED IN MORO BATTLE — President Wires Congratulations to the Troops"
Ever since the Bud Dajo massacre happened, the Tausug people recall the tragedy every **6 March** as the **Bud Dajo Day** to remember the [Moros] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_people) who fought for their freedom.
