United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Golberg is leaving the Philippines.
He will return to Washington after 3 years of service in the US Embassy in Manila.
In an interview, Goldberg said, “I will be in Washington for a while to help in the transition to a new administration,” referring to events that will result from the US presidential elections on November 8, 2016.
Goldberg maintained, his movement has nothing to do with the controversial remarks President Rodrigo Duterte made against him.
“My term is up. It has nothing to do with anything else.”
But he also admitted, “the last 3 months have been somewhat different.”
He noted, “I am a diplomat. I am in the Philippines not as an individual but as a representative of the people of the United States and the US President.”
Goldberg added, he does not take things personally.
“I just let the comments stand on their own,” he said.
In responding to negative comments and situations, Goldberg said, he takes after US President Barack Obama, who is always very dignified and civil.
Goldberg also recalled, he was assigned to the Philippines just before super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ struck the country on November 8, 2013.
He saw the destruction in Leyte.
As the Philippines braces for typhoon ‘Lawin’ which threatens Northern Luzon, Goldberg called on Filipinos to take every safety precaution.
He warned, “these things are not supposed to be fooled around with. This is serious business.”