Speaking to the Filipino community in Beijing, China on Wednesday, Duterte complained why Americans can enter the Philippines visa-free while Filipinos have a hard time securing a US Visa to visit the United States.
“America? Miski ako hindi ako makapunta doon, hindi ako bigyan ng visa ng mga…” he said.
He narrated that he was asked what would happen if he decided to marry and stay in the US.
“Sabi ko, ‘Mr. Consul, even if you offer me free visas for a lifetime and even if you offer me 10,000 dollars, I’d still return to my country and be a Filipino,’” Duterte recalled and the crowd broke into cheers.
“The problem is, you go to America? You’ll not be issued a visa,” he stressed his point.
He shared that a local government official was also denied of a visa although he was invited to an event by the US government itself.
“The poor man had to travel. He was in poor health. Pagdating dito [US Embassy], he was denied. Pero sila anytime. They enter the Philippines visa-free. Well, there will always be a time for reckoning. Bakit hindi natin tablahin?” Duterte said and gave a faint smile.