Duterte ready to open PH doors to Rohingya refugees

President Duterte’s heart goes out to the Rohingya whom he describes as victims of “genocide” in Myanmar and is willing to accept as refugees in the Philippines.

In a speech in Malacañang, Mr. Duterte chided the United Nations for failing to solve the Rohingya crisis.

“That is really genocide, if I may [say] so,” he said, adding he would welcome the Rohingya to the country. “Me? We? I’m willing to accept refugees. Rohingyas, yes, I will,” he said.

But Europe should accept them as well, he added. Members of the mostly Muslim Rohingya minority are facing persecution and violence from the Myanmar military, and they have been escaping in droves to nearby Bangladesh.

The Philippines in November voted against a draft UN resolution to help the Rohingya. It balked against censuring Myanmar and said this could only worsen the situation.—LEILA B. SALAVERRIA