DAVAO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said he would invite for beer the police officer who drove the van that plowed through a crowd of protesters last week outside the US Embassy in Manila, to ask him why he did it.

While maintaining he was not justifying the acts of PO3 Franklin Kho, Duterte said the officer—who was caught on video running over some protesters and bumping several others—may have been under stress at the time.

” I will try to talk to him peacefully, invite him for beer.” I will also talk to the activists,” Duterte said. 

It seems that it is not only US President Barack Obama who is resorting to beer diplomacy to intermediate on issues of national concern.

When asked by The Adobo Chronicles what his beer preference was, Kho said, “San Mig Light siyempre.” (San Mig Light of course.)