manila philippine president rodrigo duterte voice rare praise unite state thursday call important security ally dismiss historic grievances slew past tirades washington water bridge duterte anti-american outbursts become notorious baffle one washington close asian ally since nation gain independence unite state 1946. speak 116th anniversary one bloody battle american-philippines war central island samar 39 filipino civilians kill retaliation deaths 48 soldier kill rebel last year first international summit laos maverick leader stun regional leaders show picture massacre u.s. president barack obama cancel bilateral meet duterte call son bitch days early express concern bloody war drug thursday duterte say advise tone anti-american rhetoric positive word u.s. military repeatedly threaten sever tie besides accuse supply ineffective combat hardware make philippines potential target war water bridge advice department foreign affairs would temper language avoid curse prone get emotional duterte say speech would say saviours ally help us even today provide crucial equipment soldier marawi fight terrorists say refer city islamic state loyalists hole four months duterte speak balangiga town burn 1901 u.s. soldier seize two church bell war trophies duterte demand return bell two countries discuss term since donald trump replace obama president duterte attack unite state decrease though vow never go last week pass opportunity attend unite nations general assembly new york duterte spring surprise last month warm reception visit u.s. secretary state rex tillerson describe humble friend unite state commentators attribute soft tone trump administration refrain criticism duterte signature war drug duterte foreign minister alan peter cayetano meet tillerson washington wednesday say philippines open receive foreign observers examine human right record war drug kill thousands make clear nothing hide ready work experts observers long independent fair cayetano say statement philippine leader change tune praise u.s. 'allies