Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has apologised to former US president Barack Obama for calling him a "son of a whore" in 2016. The comment had caused a huge uproar which led to the lowest point in the two countries' alliance.
Duterte had responded with the comment when the US, along with other global powers, attacked Duterte over his violent drug crackdown in Philippines.
Duterte after apologising went on to say that his relation with America had improved under President Donald Trump. He called Trump a "good friend" who "speaks my language".
"It would be appropriate also to say at this time to Mr. Obama that you are now a civilian and I am sorry for uttering those words," Duterte said Sunday in a speech before Filipinos in Israel.
Duterte landed in Israel on Sunday for a four-day stay as the Philippines seeks to develop new sources of military hardware and nail down protections for its overseas workers.
"If it is (in) your heart to forgive, you forgive. I have forgiven you, just like my girlfriends when I was still a bachelor... I have forgiven them also," the Philippine leader said in the same speech.
After his election in mid-2016, Duterte quickly earned a reputation for using vulgar language against critics which his aides have tried to minimise or explain away.
He branded Pope Francis and the then US ambassador to Manila "sons of whores". He also fired expletives at the United Nations and during a speech in the Philippines raised his middle finger in defiance to the European parliament.
Duterte often rails at critics of his campaign to rid the Philippines of narcotics, which police say has killed 4,410 alleged drug dealers or users.
Rights groups say the actual number of dead is triple that and could amount to crimes against humanity.
