UN, EU told: Don’t expect PH, Duterte to just accept ‘punches’

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Filipinos won’t just sit down and allow others to give them a beating.

A day after President Rodrigo Duterte invited the United Nations and the European Union to probe the alleged human rights violations in his war against illegal drugs, Malacañang on Friday said the two international bodies should also expect punches from the President.

“It’s not a one way ticket to the flu; kasi dapat may return ticket iyan (there should be a return ticket). Hindi naman tayo magpapabugbog na lamang (We won’t allow others to just give us a beating),” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview over radio DZMM.

“Malinaw din ang sinabi ng Pangulo na pagkatapos nilang mag-imbestiga, pagkatapos nilang magtanung, si Presidente naman ang magtatanong sa kanila (The President made it clear that after they investigate, he will also ask questions to them),” he added.

Amid Duterte’s invitation, Andanar said other countries should respect Philippine sovereignty.

“We are a sovereign country, respect our sovereignty, the way we respect your sovereignty. Hindi naman tayo nakikialam sa mga internal affairs ng ibang bansa. Kailan ba nakialam ang Pilipinas sa European Union o doon sa Amerika o sa ibang bansa? Hindi naman tayo nakikialam eh (We never meddle in the internal affairs of other countries. When did the Philippines interfere with the European Union, the United States or other nations? We never interfere), we simply mind our own business,” he said.

On Thursday, Duterte invited UN’s chief Ban Ki-Moon and the EU to come to the Philippines and investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings amid his bloody war on illegal drugs.

READ: Duterte: UN chief, EU may come to PH, but…

The President said he has ordered Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to write the letter of invitation to the UN and EU.

But he said his invitation “could not be a one way affair.”

After giving them the “right to be heard,” they must also answer questions from him. He then challenged them to a debate.

“I will take on them one by one in an open forum.  You can use the Senate or (the) Folk Arts (Theater), whatever. Everybody will be invited. All of you can watch how I trample on them,” he said.

“They could ask all the questions they want,” he said, but was quick to add that he would also ask them questions.

Duterte earlier slammed the UN and the EU for criticizing him and his bloody crackdown on illegal drugs. IDL

READ: Fuck you, EU – Duterte