Duterte warns US State Department against criticizing his bloody drug war

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte cautioned the US State Department about criticizing his administration’s bloody drug war in his taped weekly briefing that aired late on Monday.

“I’d like to say something about the State Department. Be careful. Be careful of what you are planning or doing there. Because you yourself, your country is — not only was — is guilty also of so many violations of human rights,” Duterte said.

He did not elaborate on his statement, which he made after 11 Democrat senators in the US urged the administration of President Joe Biden to condemn “at the highest levels” the alleged “continuing pattern of human rights violations” under Duterte’s watch.

READ: 11 US senators to Biden admin: Condemn ‘pattern’ of abuses under Duterte

The senators cited allegations of “extrajudicial police misconduct” during operations as part of Duterte’s drug war.

Malacañang responded by saying that it would be up to Biden to handle the issue.

READ: Palace dismisses US senators’ call vs Duterte admin: It’s up to Joe Biden

“About that list of those killed, why is it just a list of criminals of who were killed? Answer me on that one,” Duterte said in Filipino.

He then commented on the possibility of his facing the International Criminal Court in The Netherlands to answer for crimes against humanity filed against him in connection with the drug war killings.

“You know, you really want me to — it’s over my dead body. If you can get me, you can bring me there in The Netherlands — dead. You will have a carcass. I won’t go there alive — you crazy people [he said: ‘mga ulol’],” Duterte said.

“When I see you there, I’ll be one step ahead of you. Goddamn you all, these human rights advocates,” he added.

[Original statement: “Pag nakita ko kayo dito, unahan ko na kayo. Mga letse kayo, itong mga human rights.” ]

/ATM