Duterte threatens to take PH out of UN

President Duterte on Sunday threatened to withdraw the country’s membership in the United Nations (UN) amid calls from rights experts to put an end to extrajudicial killings.

Duterte hit the UN’s supposed meddling in the state affairs when special rapporteurs from the intergovernmental body welcomed the challenge to look into the rising death toll attributed to the administration’s intensified war against illegal drugs.

READ: Duterte hits ‘stupid’ UN criticism of PH anti-drug campaign

“Maybe we just have to decide to separate from the United Nations,” Duterte said in an early morning press conference in Davao City.

“Kung ganyan kayo kabastos eh umalis na kami diyan sa inyo,” he added. (If you are that rude, we might just as well leave.)

Duterte said the UN special rapporteurs broke protocol when they aired a statement criticizing his administration.

“You do not just throw that kind of allegations or statement without even coming here,” he said, “You’re just relying on the reports of newspapers and tabloids. That’s what you do.”

Reminding the UN that he was not just a mayor anymore, the Chief Executive demanded to see the rapporteur in the Philippines or somewhere else.

“Let them talk to me and let them face me with hard facts,” he added.

Earlier, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the government did not extend any invitation to any third-party observer, adding that “the drug situation is being responsibly addressed by Philippine authorities.”

Duterte said the “inutile” UN, which could not end wars and maintain peace among its members, had not done any good for the Philippines.

“So take us out of your organization. You have done nothing. Where were you here the last time? Never. Except to criticize,” he said.

“When have you done a good deed to my country?”

The UN, he said, should refund the country’s financial contribution “so we can go out.”

“I can build so many rehabilitation centers with that amount,” he said.

He brought out the possibility of forming a new intergovernmental organization with China and African countries./rga