Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday met the man he calls his hero, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and unburdened his gripes about US "hypocrisy," "bullying" and foreign wars.
Duterte, who has publicly expressed his admiration for the Russian leader, said the Cold War had stood between their two countries as the Philippines, a former US colony, was historically identified with the West.
But that has changed now that he is president.
Since taking office in June, the foul-mouthed Duterte has upended the Philippines' historical military alliance with the United States, repeatedly saying he was shifting toward China and Russia as he embarks on an independent foreign policy.
"It was good (while) it lasted," Duterte told Putin of what he has called his "separation" from the US.
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