What Did Rodrigo Duterte Say Now? Philippines President Called Ambassadors Spies, Will Throw Officials From Helicopters

Known for his temper and volatile, even tempestuous, rhetoric, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte labeled U.S. ambassadors as spies following a report that alleged a plot to damage his regime, Reuters reported.

Responding to a report from The Manila Times on Tuesday, which cited a document received from a “highly placed source” that claims a former U.S. ambassador to the Philippines made a “blueprint to undermine Duterte,” the loquacious leader said he believed most ambassadors were working with the Central Intelligence Agency.

"Most of the ambassadors of the United States, but not all, are not really professional ambassadors. At the same time they are spying, they are connected with the CIA," Duterte said Thursday. "The ambassador of a country is the number one spy. But there are ambassador of the U.S., their forte is really to undermine governments."

The report named former ambassador Philip Goldberg — previously stationed in the capital of Manila — and said he had created “strategies” to hurt Duterte’s power.

Duterte, who came to power in June, has made questioning U.S. motives in his country a daily habit. His most recent comments come only two days after he accused the U.S. of “hypocrisy” on human rights issues after criticism for his violent drug war.

And Duterte also made thinly-veiled threats to heave corrupt officials from helicopters on Tuesday, claiming he had done it before, BBC reported.

Speaking to typhoon victims, who applauded him, Duterte issued a warning to those who thinking of stealing the financial aid package he has promised the victims.

"If you are corrupt, I will fetch you using a helicopter to Manila and I will throw you out," he said. "I have done this before, why would I not do it again?"

Though a spokesperson later called Duterte’s claim an “urban legend,” a clip of the remarks was posted online by his office, according to BBC.

But even Duterte backed away from the helicopter threat on Thursday.

"Helicopter to throw a person? And if that is true, I will not admit it," he said to ABS-CBS news.