Duterte says CIA could be eavesdropping on his conversations

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said the United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which he has repeatedly accused of plotting to kill him, could be listening to his conversations.

"I know that ang nakikinig sa akin ay United States, sigurado ‘yan ang CIA, kaya iyan ang papatay sa aking mga ulol na iyan," Duterte said in his speech during the League of Municipalities-Visayas Island Cluster Conference in Cebu City.

He said Russia, China, Israel, and Indonesia may also be monitoring his conversations.

Duterte expressed his dislike for smartphones, saying he "cannot learn anymore." He also said basic phones are not easy to intercept.

"Kaya tayong matatanda, huwag kayong gumamit nyan. If you do not really consciously spend time to study how it works, better lay off. Madidisgrasya ‘yan. ‘Yan ang sinasabi sa akin ng mga sundalo," he said.

The President also slammed the US again for warning the Philippines against buying submarines from Russia.

Randall Schriver, US assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, urged the Philippine government last week to "think carefully" about the planned purchase of Russian hardware.

Schriver pointed to both tactical and political problems if the Philippines pushed through with buying military equipment from Russia.

"Look I do not have a quarrel with America. But I have certainly dynamics with the State Department and the other officials because America seems to be in a hypocritical stage always. Double speak 'yan sila," the President said. 

Duterte said the relations between the Philippines and its treaty ally, the US, have never been of "mutuality and respect." — BAP, GMA News