REPEATED Standard Poll surveys affirmed the claim of White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest that there are indeed “warm relations” between Filipinos and Americans.
Several surveys of the Standard Poll, conducted by statistician Junee Laylo, most Filipinos consider the US and Japan as the country’s top two tunay na kaibigan [real friends] while China is the Philippines’ top “frenemy” and its least-trusted neighbor. So what happened?
The following timeline shows events leading to the current situation.
Mar 7 – In a campaign sortie at Rizal, Duterte said it might be wiser for the country to pursue a “bilateral mode” with China instead of the multilateral approach by the Aquino administration.
Apr 15 – Duterte insists pursuing a deal with China should they fail to get a favorable ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
April 17 – Duterte tells “rape joke” about Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill.
April 18 – Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely and US Ambassador Philip Goldberg criticize Duterte over joke.
April 20 – Duterte says he may cut ties with US, Australia following their criticisms to his rape joke comments.
May 9 – Duterte wins national elections.
May 18 – US President Barack Obama congratulates Duterte.
June 13 – US Ambassador Philip Goldberg visits Duterte in Davao.
June 21 – Duterte asks Goldberg if the US will help the Philippines if China attacks.
June 30 – Duterte takes oath as 16th Philippine President. Duterte vows to honor international obligations.
June 14 – Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno says Duterte wants to start bilateral talks with China.
June 12 – The Permanent Court of Arbitration rules for the Philippines in its historic case against China over the South China Sea.
June 19 – American lawmakers, Senator Chris Murphy, Brian Schatz, Congressman Ted Deutch, Donna Edwards, John Garamendi and Goldberg visits Duterte in Malacanang to discuss landmark ruling on the West Philippine Sea.
June 27 – US commits $32 million for PH law enforcement training, services during visit of Secretary of State John Kerry
August 5 – Despite meeting earlier with Goldberg, President Rodrigo Duterte calls him an “annoying homosexual” during a military camp visit in Cebu.
August 8 – US State Department raises concern over alleged extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the Philippines, after Duterte publicly named more than 160 judges, mayors, solons, police and other individuals were suspected to be involved in drug activity.
August 9 – The US State Department summoned Patrick Chuasoto, Philippine charge d’ affaires in Washington after Duterte’s remarks calling Goldberg an “annoying homosexual.”
August 12 – Duterte says he will not apologize for Goldberg comment, tells the outgoing US ambassador to apologize for “meddling” in the country’s elections.
August 13 – DFA answers US concerns, saying that they do not condone unlawful killings but dodges any apologies to Goldberg.
August 23 – Duterte hits US for the killings of black people which the US has also failed to address.
August 29 – Duterte appoints chief Palace protocol officer Marciano Paynor as Philippine ambassador to the US.
August 30 – Malacanang and the White House confirm that Duterte and Obama will meet at the Asean summit in Laos in September.
Sept. 2 – US Press Secretary John Earnest says Obama won’t pull punches against Duterte in their Laos meet.
Sept. 3 – US condoles with the Philippines after Davao night market bombing.
Sept. 5 – Duterte calls Obama a “son of a bitch” at a press conference in Davao City before leaving for Laos. Obama says Duterte a “colorful guy” and suggests their scheduled bilateral talks may not push through.
Sept. 6 – Obama scraps bilateral meeting with Duterte at Laos.
Sept. 12 – Duterte says he doesn’t want the presence of US Special Forces in Mindanao; says US pacification campaign continues to stir unrest in the South.
Sept. 13 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay says there will be no shift in Philippine policy on US. Duterte says he won’t cut “umbilical cord” with allies but says he may stop joint sea patrols with the US.
Sept. 14 – Duterte says he’s keen on buying defense equipment from Russia and China, citing that America doesn’t want to help him. The following day, Duterte says he doesn’t want the US to leave the country.
Sept. 16 – The US State Department said that they will be looking to recent allegations of extrajudicial killings when Duterte was still Davao mayor, following the emergence of professed killer Edgar Matobato.
Sept. 20 – Palace says they are investigating “oust Duterte” plots by some influential Filipino-Americans
Sept. 23 – Duterte invites Obama to PH to probe supposed extrajudicial killings.
Sept. 26. Duterte says he’s about to “cross the Rubicon” with the US, insists however he will open up alliances with China and Russia.
Sept. 28 – Duterte says next PH-US military exercises will be the last in his term.
Oct. 2 – Duterte threatens US to call off the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, may ask US Forces to leave the Philippines soon.
Oct. 4 – Duterte tells Obama to “go to hell” for meddling in local affairs and the EU to go to “purgatory”
Oct. 6 – Yasay says America failed Philippines. Duterte tells EU, US: Withdraw aid, we will survive.