Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte once again lashed out against the European lawmakers on Sunday for interfering in the issues his country. He described them as "crazies" in a salty-tongued rebuttal to criticism of his deadly drug war and vowed that all traffickers will be killed.
In a late-night speech at a meeting with the Filipino community in Myanmar, where he was on a two-day official visit, Duterte hit back at the European Union for issuing a resolution last week calling for the release of Senator Leila De Lima and condemning "the high number of extrajudicial killings" in his drug war.
In its resolution, the European lawmakers also called for the UN Human Rights Council to launch a probe into Duterte's drug war and expressed "deep alarm" at Duterte's plans to bring back the death penalty.
"I don't get these crazies. Why are you trying to impose on us? Why don't you mind your own business," the 71-year-old leader said. "Why do you have to fuck with us, God damn it."
Duterte gave his speech mostly in Filipino including some parts in English to make himself clear to Europeans. But, at some point in time, he was unable to contain his frustration and cursed at the body of European lawmakers for their resolution.
"Do not impose on other countries, especially us. This, before, was the favorite of ASEAN countries because there's a death penalty in Indonesia, Malaysia and I'm trying to revive it," he said. Duterte also pointed out that some European countries also impose capital punishment.
More than 8,000 people have been killed in the nationwide ruthless anti-drugs crackdown since Duterte took over office seven months ago. According to Duterte, illegal drugs are threatening to turn the Philippines into a narco-state.
The police reported that more than 2,500 people were killed, while rights groups claim that there have been more than 5,000 other deaths linked to the drug war. The Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also warned Duterte may be overseeing crimes against humanity, with police allegedly running anonymous death squads.
Meanwhile, Duterte has vigorously denied involvement in thousands of mysterious killings of drug users. He insisted that he has not asked his security forces to break the law. However, time and again, he has called for millions of addicts to be killed and vowed to pardon police officers found guilty of murder. On Sunday, he again warned that many more people would be killed in the crackdown. "More people will die. I said I will not stop. I will continue until the last drug lord in the Philippines is killed and the pushers (are) out of the streets," Duterte said.
Duterte was also criticised for targeting the poor in his drug war. In response, he said he had to "destroy" small-time street peddlers as well as the big-time drug lords.
Duterte highlighted that there are a number of culture differences between the two nations, hence it is absolutely impossible to impose similar laws in every case. The President referred to a recent Time magazine cover article on gender and sexuality to highlight what he insisted was blanket Filipino opposition to same-sex marriage.
"That's their culture. It does not apply to us. We are Catholics and there is the civil code which says that you can only marry a woman for me (and) for a woman to marry a man," he said. Duterte added: "You stay where God assigned you. Do not mix us all up."
