Last week, two United Nations human rights experts urged Manila to stop the extra-judicial executions and killings that have escalated since Duterte won the presidency in May on a promise to wipe out drugs.
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has encouraged people to kill drug dealers and has called a US ambassador “gay”, but it seems he can’t take criticism himself.
In a press conference one day prior, President Duterte, nicknamed “Duterte Harry” for his tough, crime-busting reputation, defended the extrajudicial killings of more than 500 drug suspects by police and vigilantes in the eight weeks since he was sworn in.
The UN’s special reporter on summary executions, Agnes Callamard, last week said Duterte’s promise of immunity and bounties to security forces who killed drug suspects violated worldwide law.
The UN’s special rapporteur on summary executions, Agnes Callamard, last week said Duterte’s promise of immunity and bounties to security forces who killed drug suspects violated worldwide law.
“You now, UN, if you can say one bad thing about me, I can give you ten (about you)”, he said, before mentioning the organisation’s “failure” to curb hunger and terrorism.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said today that claims by two United Nations human rights experts’ were “baseless and irresponsible”.
Earlier this month the UN’s anti-drug office said, it was “greatly concerned” by the killings of those who are suspected of drug dealing and associated crimes.
“You do not just throw that kind of allegations or statement without even coming here”, he said Sunday.
“I admit many are dying but our campaign, now… we have momentum”, he said.
The 71-year-old lawyer and politician said if the United Nations returned the money his country has paid the body over the years, Manila would consider leaving the global organization.
Duterte hit the UN’s supposed meddling in the state affairs when special rapporteurs from the intergovernmental body welcomed the challenge to look into the rising death toll attributed to the administration’s intensified war against illegal drugs. The tragic anti-drugs campaign left hundreds of suspects dead behind.
Nevertheless, Yasay said the final word rested with Duterte.
The U.N. has condemned the “war on drugs” as a human-rights violation, prompting Duterte to publicly venture that he may pull the country from the organization.
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“I don’t give a sh*t about them”, he added. “Is that stupid body complaining about the stench there of death”.
