Rody: Obama can go to hell, EU to purgatory

MANILA, Philippines – As the first – and possibly last – joint Philippine-US military exercises under the Duterte administration kicked off yesterday, the President made his sentiments on the event known by telling US President Barack Obama to “go to hell” and the European Union to settle for “purgatory.”

The President fired his latest broadside before a gathering in Makati City of local government officials.

Duterte has been vocal about his resentment at being reminded by the US and the EU of his duty to observe the principles of human rights in the conduct of his intensified war against illegal drugs.

“Instead of helping us, the first one which attacked is the State Department,” Duterte said.

“So, ou can go to hell. Mr. Obama, you can go to hell. EU, you better choose purgatory, hell is already full. Bakit ako matatakot sa inyo (Why should I fear you)?” 

He said he would rather kneel before the king of Brunei or Thailand than before the US.

“The way that I behave, for the life of me, mas mabuti magluhod ako sa (it’s better for me to kneel before the) king of Brunei or Thailand, wag mo ako paluhurin sa (don’t make me kneel before) America,” he said.

“You can do your worst actually. (I said I stake) my job, my life, the presidency. Kung tatlong taon lang ako (If I last for only three years), so be it,” the President added.

Duterte went on assailing his critics for giving a spin to his statements about Adolf Hitler.

“Sabi nila si Duterte, Hitler yan eh (They said Duterte is Hitler), but it’s a faux pas. It’s a classic faux pas. Patayin ko mga durugista (I’ll kill the addicts),” he said.

“I was stressing a point there. Anyway, I apologized for it and apologize again, it’s not politically, socially correct of me to say that. And if I ruffled the feathers of Jewish community, then I say I’m sorry,” Duterte said.

After the LGU event last night, Duterte went to Salcedo Village, Makati City to attend a celebration of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.

Duterte explained that he sometimes thinks aloud.  “Yung iba naman eto lang ang serviceable (For the others, only this is serviceable),” he said, referring to his mouth. “Why is the tongue so valuable? It takes care of your hunger – sexual and food.”

War games belittled

The President also downplayed the benefits of the war games between the US and the Philippine armed forces.

“Don’t believe the Americans. They will not fight to die for us,” he said. He claimed the Americans were learning more in the war games “using our soldiers, because their equipment and our equipment, there is no compatibility.”

Duterte also said again that F-50 fighter jets procured from South Korea are useless because the AFP is not permitted to purchase missiles and M-50 guns for the aircraft.

“Nawalan ko ng bilib sa mga gago na yan. Wala akong bilib sa kanila. Dito ako ngayon dinadaan sa human rights (I’ve lost my admiration for those fools, I have no admiration for those fools. Now they’re getting back at me through human rights),” the President said, referring to the US. – With Jaime Laude