"This is all water under the bridge, I was under advice by the Department of Foreign Affairs, that I would temper my language and avoid cursing, which I am prone to do if I get emotional," Duterte said in the speech.
"I would not say they were our saviors, but they are our allies and they helped us. Even today, they provide crucial equipment to our soldiers in Marawi to fight the terrorists," he said, referring to the city where Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) loyalists have been holed up for four months.
Duterte began showing his softer side towards the United States in August when he called himself a “humble friend” of Washington while meeting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.