VIENTIANE, Laos – More than 3 months after first hitting the United Nations (UN), Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a gala dinner on Wednesday evening, September 7.

A handout photo shows Duterte shaking hands with Ban at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gala dinner in Vientiane, Laos, on Wednesday evening. 

Duterte has detested Ban’s remarks on extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

On June 2, even before he took office, Duterte criticized the UN for failing to solve the conflict in the Middle East and not helping the “black people” in Africa.

Months later, Duterte threatened to leave the UN because of his “frustrations” with the international body. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), however, clarified that the Philippines remains “committed” to the UN.

Earlier on Wednesday, Duterte also briefly met with US President Barack Obama. 

Referring to Duterte and Obama, DFA spokesman Charles Jose said, “I think na-iron out na ang kanilang differences.” (I think they have ironed out their differences.)

This happened two days after Duterte criticized Obama over Washington’s criticism of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. 

The ASEAN Summit is the first international meeting that Duterte is attending as chief executive. – Rappler.com