Duterte: ‘Yellows’ out to discredit, impeach me

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte virtually blamed yesterday former president Benigno Aquino III and his allies for the alleged efforts to destroy his reputation in the international community, following the backlash of his statements against US President Obama and United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon.

Duterte has repeatedly lambasted the US and the UN for what he called interference in local policies particularly their criticism of the extrajudicial killings brought about by the administration’s war on drugs.

Duterte said the “yellows” were out to discredit him so that he will be removed from office. 

The President said he will not be cowed by the attacks on him over his campaign against illegal drugs where some 3,000 pushers and users have been killed both in police operations and by vigilantes.

“Huwag na tayong mag-bolahan. Sumakay itong si (Let’s not kid each other) Obama. Sumakay si (joined also by) Ban Ki-moon. Alam mo kaninong laro ito (you know whose game is that)? Yellow iyan,” he said, begging pardon of a girl wearing a yellow dress in the audience. 

He said he was not referring to the girl in yellow.

Duterte was referring to supporters of former president Aquino.

Yellow symbolized the color of the opposition during the martial law regime, which counted the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., father of the former president, as among the opposition leaders.  

“They can think that if they can build a case against me, I’ll be impeached,” he said.

Duterte reiterated that he does not care losing the presidency for as long as he is able to serve the Filipino people well, including his quest to stop the drug menace in the country.

“My God, I tell you frankly, when I assumed office, in this quest of mine, I prepared to lose my honor, my life and the presidency,” he said during the oath taking of new government appointees at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang yesterday.

“It was not the presidency. Even if it fails with basic principles in my life. My values are not as good as yours, yun ang sabi mo (that’s what you said). But these are my own values, I have a set of rules to live by. I have been true to that since I was a young prosecutor,” he added.