Duterte to activist: Are you a pedophile?
Manila, Sept. 17: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte taunted the head of the Commission on Human Rights on Saturday, asking if he was a paedophile because of his focus on the killing of teenagers in the government’s bloody war on drugs.
Mr Duterte also suggested to lawmakers that the CHR’s proposed 678 million Philippine peso ($13.2 million) budget could be used to equip police with body cameras if the legislators preferred not to restore funding for the agency, with which he has repeatedly clashed over his antidrugs campaign.
The CHR requested a budget of 1.72 billion pesos for 2018, but the government proposed 678 million instead. Duterte’s allies in the lower house of Congress then voted to allocate it just 1,000 pesos ($20), in what critics of the drugs war said was retaliation for its efforts to investigate thousands of killings in the past 15 months, including those of two teenagers in August.
“Why is this guy so pre... suffocated with the issue of young people, especially boys? Are you a paedophile?” Mr Duterte asked, referring to CHR head Chito Gascon. “Why are you smitten with teenagers? Are you? I’m having my doubts. Are you gay or a paedophile?” he asked.
CHR spokeswoman Jacqueline de Guia said the President’s remarks deviated public attention.
“These are remarks that do not show respect for the dignity of others. The public must understand that the death of children concerns us all as they are especially vulnerable and need state protection,” Ms De Guia said in a mobile phone message.