By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday owned up to extra judicial killings (EJKs) in the country as he deplored complaints filed against his controversial war on drugs, accusing him of murder and crimes against humanity, at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
“Ano kasalanan ko? Nagnakaw ba ako dyan ni piso? Did I prosecute somebody na pinakulong ko? Ang kasalanan ko lang ‘yung mga extrajudicial killing (What is my fault? Did I steal money, even a single peso? Did I prosecute somebody whom I ordered jailed? My only fault is the extra judicial killing),” Mr. Duterte said in his remarks at the Palace on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 27, during the oath-taking of new career executive service officers, conferment ceremony of the 2017 Gawad Career Executive Services, and the 2018 Outstanding Government Workers Awards rites.
“Eh ‘yung mga extra judicial killing naman itong mga ulol, lalo na ‘yung itim, sino ‘yun? (These extra judicial killings are for the mad ones, especially that black [person], who is that?),” he added, perhaps referring to ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.
He also said the “prosecutor” is “actually exercising functions which [she is] not supposed to do,” and she is “committing usurpation of authority.”
“Itong ICC. Mahina talaga yang mga buang na ‘yan (The ICC. These crazy people are really stupid),” the President continued.
Mr. Duterte mentioned as well former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince of Jordan Zeid Raad al-Hussein, a cousin of King Abdullah of Jordan.
“He [was] not even elected democratically. He [was] there as part of the ruling elite,” Mr. Duterte said.
“Now you come to me, sabihin mo (to tell me) I need a psychiatrist? Gag* ka pala (You are stupid),” he added.
The President noted also that King Abdullah recently donated two attack “helicopters” to the Philippines during his official visit to Jordan.
“Binigyan nga tayo ng (He definitely gave us) helicopters, tapos alam mo sabi ng (then you know what the) King of Jordan (said [of his cousin])? ‘Do not mind that brother, he is [crazy]’,” he narrated.
But then Mr. Duterte also said about the 4,000 deaths attributed to the drug war: “4,000 deaths. When? Where? How? What did I use? Wala (nothing).”
An emcee said after Mr. Duterte’s speech, “Thank you very much, Mr. President, for your encouraging words of wisdom.”
