BULUAN, MAGUINDANAO— Many leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are complaining that Western countries continue to meddle in their affairs, according to President Duterte.

“That’s the problem with Western countries, the sons of bitches think they’re better than we are. But they know we are more [intelligent] than they are,” the President said.

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He said Western countries were trying to “destroy us” when “they teach us what to do.”

Among those who have complained about the interference are Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, he said.

“And Cambodia, they’re pressuring it. Actually in Asean, I’d be frank with you, except maybe Thailand, they cannot get anybody from there,” Mr. Duterte said on the eve of his departure for Singapore.

He said he did not mind being criticized by Filipinos, but not by foreigners. —ALLAN NAWAL AND JEOFFREY MAITEM

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