Duterte calls UNHRC members ‘fools’ for favoring PH rights situation inquiry

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday berated member-states of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that voted in favor of Iceland’s resolution to scrutinize the human rights situation in the Philippines, even calling all of them “fools.”

“Itong mga gagong ito (These fools), they don’t understand the social, political problems of the Philippines,” Duterte said in his speech at the 28th Anniversary celebration of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology held at the theater of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Quezon City.

Duterte was apparently referring to the countries who voted to adopt the Iceland resolution, which calls for an inquiry into the spate of killings and human rights violations in the Philippines.

This was the first time that Duterte addressed the issue, a day after 18 countries voted to approve Iceland’s resolution during the 41st session of UNHRC in Geneva. Fourteen voted no and 15 states abstained.

In the same speech, Duterte even cursed at those who want an investigation into his bloody war against illegal drugs, which, authorities have said, has claimed 6,600 lives since it was launched on June 30, 2016, or since Duterte became president.

“Hindi maintindihan ng mga putang inang ‘to na may problema tayo. Iceland, ano ang problema ng Iceland? Ice lang. That’s your problem you have too much ice and there is no clear day or night there,” he said, apparently mocking the European nation.

(These s*ns of a b*t*h cannot understand that we have a problem. Iceland, what’s the problem of Iceland? Just ice. That’s your problem you have too much ice and there is no clear day or night there.)

“Parang alas kwatro ng hapon ang araw pati gabi (It’s day time and night time is like four in the afternoon). So you can understand why there is no crime, there (are) no policemen, and they just go about eating ice,” he added.

‘Kill’ threat a crime?

Duterte, known to let out cocky threats to kill criminals and drug addicts, again slammed human rights group for condemning his style of governance.

“So what’s wrong? I am asking the human rights people. Is it wrong to say, if you’ll destroy my country, I will kill you? Is that a crime for the President-mayor? Or a governor to say that in public?” he said.

The President also hit critics for politicizing the detention of opposition Senator Leila de Lima over alleged drug charges.

“Itong pulitika kasi diyan si De Lima, they believed na hook line and sinker itong si De Lima is a political prisoner,” he said.

“Hayaan na lang natin kasi if you started to raise our defenses and elaborate now, you’ll have to go into a scandal ridden topic which is not appropriate for men and women like you na ayaw marinig ‘yan. Pero alam ko sa karamihan ninyo napanood na rin ninyo ‘yan,” he said, apparently referring to De Lima’s alleged sex video.

Duterte has previously threatened to publish the alleged sex video of De Lima.

Since February 2017, the senator is detained at the custodial center of the Philippine National Police inside Camp Crame in Quezon City.

At BJMP 28th Anniversary celebration, Duterte said he wanted “others” to rot in jail.

“I also laud today’s awardees for their unwavering passion and service to lead the welfare of the persons deprived of liberty. I don’t know about the others. I can only pray for the innocent, but the others they can rot in hell for all time,” he said. /kga

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