Rody slams UN anew over extrajudicial killings

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte slammed officials of the United Nations anew for violating protocol when they condemned the vigilante killings supposedly committed in the conduct of the anti-drug campaign.

“We are a member of the United Nations. If you are a President of a country who is a member of the United Nations and you have a grudge against me, open the talk and subject matter in the United Nations,” Duterte said in a speech before the Jewish community on Tuesday.

“Maybe the United Nations or whatever, the Security Council will decide to investigate, then they would order one of the organs under them is the Human Rights Commission,” he added.

Duterte said he could accept criticisms as long as they are made in the proper forum. Rather than a rapporteur, the President prefers that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon inform him about their findings rather than go public.

He was disappointed that the US State Department and President Barack Obama have joined those who condemned his administration.

He said it’s the insults that he cannot take.

The President reiterated that he did not give direct orders to kill drug suspects for no reason, only if they resist arrest.

“I lose two policemen a day. Is that really extrajudicial killing? Why would I allow even one single policeman to die if I am into it? They might as well shoot people at a distance. You need not really go near him and have yourself slaughtered too,” he said.

Duterte said he is hurting now since the US opted to criticize him rather than help him in licking the drug problem.

He likened himself to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who does not like to be reprimanded in public.

“Netanyahu responds to vicious attacks against his policies. You hear him out. He does not care,” he said, adding he shares the Israeli leader’s stance of not listening to the Americans.   

Meanwhile, House minority leader Danilo Suarez viewed President Duterte’s remarks against Obama and the European Union as proof that he still believes in God.

“At least, President Duterte is religious enough to know that there is hell, heaven and purgatory,” Suarez told journalists in yesterday’s press conference. – With Delon Porcalla