Putin actually humble in person despite bedeviling of West—Duterte

Putin actually humble in person despite bedeviling of West—Duterte

A quite humble man in person. This is how former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte described Russian President Vladimir Putin in the recent episode of Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa with Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.

Duterte made the comment when Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy pointed out that Putin has many allies’ Asian countries despite being bedeviled by Western media.

‘‘Pres. Putin was invited to China, he went there despite the fact that he has a warrant of arrest from the ICC. In spite of the fact that he is being bedeviled by the Western media. But he still has a lot of friends in Asia, right?’’ Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy said.

Western media claims that the start of the conflict has thrown the Russian president into isolation, which has expanded after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him, although Russia is not a member of the foreign court and does not recognize its authority.

Putin recently made two foreign visits, the first was in Kyrgyzstan to meet President Sadyr Japarov, and the second was in China to join the 3rd Belt and Road Forum and talk with President Xi Jinping, whom Putin calls his dear friend.

And recently, Putin accepted invitations from Thailand and Vietnam, it can be noted that Thailand, a country not a state party to the ICC Rome Statute, opted to maintain its ties with Russia.

On the other hand, Vietnam has had a strong relationship with Russia since the Soviet Union Era.

Meanwhile, former President Duterte, who agreed with Pastor Apollo’s remarks, revealed his impression of Putin, saying the Russian president is quite humble and not arrogant.

‘‘To the Western press, Putin is really a demon, but if you become his friend, He is— he is also, he is quite humble as a person. I did not see any arrogance in him. Here in the Philippines, the Congress has many arrogant people,’’ according to former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

It can be remembered that during his presidency, former Pres. Duterte sought closer relations between the Philippines and Russia as part of his “friends-to-all all, enemies-to-none” foreign policy.

In 2017, Duterte thanked Putin for helping turn the tide in the Marawi siege by donating vehicles, assault weapons, and ammunition.

In 2019, Duterte made a second trip to Russia after the first one was cut short by the fall of Marawi.

In January of this year, the former president said he considers Putin a friend but disagrees with his move to launch a military operation in Ukraine, raising concerns about global instability.

 

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