MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he will not allow himself to be a “lapdog (tuta)” of any world power, most especially the United States.

Duterte is on a three-day official to Japan, fresh off a four-day state visit to China last week, as he charts a new foreign policy path for the Philippines away from the US, its long-standing ally.

“Before we can move forward, Mr. America, there are so many things, the massacre of the Filipinos before, these are historical hurts that will never go away. Depende na lang kung magka-presidente ang Pilipinas na tuta ninyo [But will happen only if someone who is your lapdog becomes president of the Philippines],” he said.

“You count me out. I am not one of you. I am not also a tuta of any country. Mind you. Ang pwede lang mag-tuta sa akin ang Pilipino [Only the Filipino can control me]. Period. Walang iba [No one else],” he said.