Duterte to critics: 'Enjoy human rights in heaven'

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte last night shrugged off anew accusations that he has no respect for human rights, saying victims can enjoy their human rights in heaven.

Duterte, who is facing a complaint before the International Criminal Court over the summary killings in the government’s war on drugs, made the statement during the inauguration of the Chinese-funded Northern Mindanao Wellness and Reintegration Center (NMWRC) in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

“P**** (son of a bitch) I will shoot you right there. You do not do that in my country. They render our cops inutile… because of human rights. P***** ka (Son of a bitch). You enjoy your human rights there in heaven,” the President said.

Duterte claimed he talked to God and got His blessing to eliminate drug offenders.

“God promised you that all (victims of) extrajudicial killings will go to heaven. That’s what I asked from God. And God replied: ‘They can be’,” he said.

“Will I do that if I don’t have any guarantee? They are pitiful…P*** i*** (Son of a bitch), if they do drugs and then they will rot in hell.”

“I said, ‘God, pagbigyan mo nalang ‘yan. Ako, wala akong hingiin sa akin (God, give them a favor. As for me, I am not asking for anything). Reserve the hottest place in hell for me. And may I burn until eternity’. Kung may (If there is) hell,” he added.

Duterte, who has verbally attacked priests, also said he does not believe that hell exists weeks after he received flak for calling God “stupid.”

“I don’t believe in it. Why would God create an oven for his creation?” he said.

“Well, I said, ‘I have a God, but it is not your stupid God. My God does not just reserve anything for the creation – you created man and woman then you reserve a furnace for them? Anong klase ‘yan (What is that)?” the President said.

He also said the drug war is real and real-life stories are even adopted in a series aired at Netflix.

The President was  apparently referring to the series “Narcos,” a true story of Colombia’s infamously violent and powerful drug cartels.

“In Netflix, you can see how they hit each other there… during face to face confrontation,” Duterte said in Filipino.

Duterte also thanked the Friends of the Philippines Foundation (FPF) led by Chinese businessman Jose Kho and Ziamen Real Estate Co. for donating the NMWRC, the largest drug treatment and rehabilitation facility in Mindanao.

The Department of Health will run the NMWRC, which will serve 500 to 800 drug patients.

The NMWRC is worth P700 million. The center has rehabilitation, sports and recreation facilities and will provide skills training to drug patients for them to become productive members of society.

“Upon completion, the foundation will also donate P13 million per year to support the operation of the rehab center,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.

“I believe this will be beneficial to the Filipino society and the Filipino people,” he added.

Roque also thanked the Chinese government for helping the Philippines in the drug campaign. – Christina Mendez