US: Inverted Philippine flag was `honest mistake'

[Ban Hammer 13,348]

MANILA, Philippines – The U.S. government said Sunday it made an "honest mistake" when it displayed an inverted Philippine flag — which wrongfully signified that the Southeast Asian nation was in a state of war — in a meeting hosted by President Barack Obama.

The Philippine flag was displayed upside down behind President Benigno Aquino III when leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met Obama in New York on Friday.

"This was an honest mistake," U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson said in a statement, adding, "the U.S. treasures its close relationship and close partnership with the Philippines."

The American embassy will find out how the "unfortunate" incident happened, she said.

Philippine foreign affairs department spokesman Ed Malaya said the government understood that it was "an honest error" that "should not detract from the true significance of the summit, which showed the unprecedented cooperation between the ASEAN and the U.S."

It was not immediately clear who pointed out the mistake. A photograph of Aquino sitting beside Obama with the inverted flag behind them was displayed on a government website Sunday but its caption did not point out the error.

During the summit, Obama discussed ways of bolstering economic ties between the U.S. and Southeast Asia as well as Asian regional concerns such as territorial disputes in the South China Sea and Nov. 7 elections in military-ruled Myanmar.

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[Matt and Evieve 1]

I've read this one also. I really hope so that it was an honest mistake. I mean, this kind of mistake should be avoided next time. The flag represents the country.

[jrmejia 31]

I read that also before going to bed last night. Good post.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Maybe Noy Noy is planning a war on poverty.

[A and T 82]

The usa gave the philippines 432 million dollars , the flag thing was an accident . If they didnt like you guys they would not have given any money at all

I hope its used well, so much is needed in the phil, drainage, sewer systems, birth control and more

[silvermug 16]

Yeah, read this one too. Very bad negligence on the US. You have many people surrounding you -- assistants, security, helps... but not one of them noticed the flag? HA!