President Asserts Independence, Calls Into Question Joint Patrols With U.S., American Troop Presence

The president of the Philippines has suggested that the U.S. should pull its special operations forces from Mindanao, only to have the remarks tempered by a presidential spokesman, reported the New York Times.

President Rodrigo Duterte also said the Philippines will no longer conduct joint patrols or expeditionary missions into disputed waters in the South China Sea, reports the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

"I will not allow it because I do not want my country to be in involved...