Philippine officials say US ties remain close despite Duterte's outbursts

Manila

THE Philippines assured the United States on Tuesday it will honour its obligations as a military ally following volleys of profane tirades by unpredictable President Rodrigo Duterte.

After calling US leader Barack Obama a "son of a whore" last week, Mr Duterte said he was "not a fan" of Washington and on Monday called for the small number of US military advisers to leave the southern Philippines.