Duterte blasts EU, US
President Duterte has warned ambassadors of the European Union (EU) that he could cut the Philippines’ diplomatic ties with the regional bloc and let its envoys leave the country in 24 hours after the bloc supposedly lobbied for the country’s removal from the United Nations (UN).
Likewise, he threatened to “drive away” the country’s traditional ally the United States (US) for alleged involvement in efforts to assassinate him, saying the Philippines can reach out to Russia and China instead.
Furious over the interference of the EU, which he claimed has been critical of his drug war, the President said the country could cut “diplomatic channel” as the nation does not need their aid anyway.
“The ambassadors of those countries listening now, tell me. Because we can have the diplomatic channel cut tomorrow. You leave my country in 24 hours. All. All of you,” a fuming President Duterte said in his remarks in Malacañang.
“Do not come to this country again. We don’t need you,” he said.
The President also challenged the EU to make good on its threat to expel the country from the world body if it can.
“You want to expel us? You try. Your $1,000 will earn 11 million from me if you can expel us from UN,” he said.
“Bakit, papayag kaya ang Russia pati China? Ul*l pala kayo eh [Why? Will Russia and China agree? You’re crazy] You think China and the rest of the countries in ASEAN will agree to that? Where will be the crucial vote come? The Security Council. And you think Russia and China will allow that?” he added.
“Kasi ang pagtingin niyo kasi sa amin, walang alam sa Charter ng United Nations. [Because you think we don’t know anything about the United Nations Charter] You think we are a bunch of morons here. You are the one,” Duterte added.
The President claimed that the “stupid European Union guys” were focused on the number of deaths linked to the government’s anti-drug campaign.
“And they threatened us, I said that they will have us expelled from the UN. My God, do it stupid. Do it now,” a fuming Duterte declared.
“Start delisting the Philippines from the UN. Sige nga kung kaya nila [Go ahead if you can],” he added.
The President’s remarks came after the Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that the Philippines could be expelled from the United Nations Human Rights Council if the government fails to halt the extra-judicial killings.
A seven-member EU delegation that visited Manila a few days ago also reportedly cautioned that the country might face sanctions over the drug killings such as losing duty-free status of certain products into the EU.
But the EU Delegation, the Philippines clarified that it was not part of a group of “international delegates” who visited the country early this week and strongly criticized Duterte's anti-illegal drugs campaign.
“The European Union was not part of the organization or planning of that visit – neither the Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines nor the European Union institutions in Brussels,” the Delegation said.
Meanwhile, the President has put the blame on the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the event he ends up dead amid criticisms over his brutal war on drugs.
“Yan CIA stop f*cking. One day, I will just drive you away. It's either they – your cahoots here will have to kill me or you have to get out of my country. Choose,” he said during the launch of a refurbished press briefing room in Malacañang.
“Basta ako sabihin ko sa Pilipino, ‘pag namatay ako, America na 'yan. CIA na ‘yan [I will tell the Filipinos, if I die, that’s America, that’s CIA],” he added.
The President claimed that the US was supposedly funding some media outfits and rights group critical of his war on illegal drugs to weaken his leadership. “The Americans will realize to their sorrow that they have been too myopic in this thing,” he said. But Duterte remained unfazed by the alleged US interference, saying the country could always rely on “idols” Russia and China that respect the country’s affairs.
“Go ahead and fund more so that we can transfer... there’s always China and Russia. What should we worry?” he said.
“You think that you are the conscience of the people? That you are the right ones because you are the white? Excuse me. Are we talking of a monkey here?” he said.
The President insisted that he would “not allow anybody not even the United States to dictate on us.”
The President hit back at the western nations for “interfering in our affairs,” insisting that the country can survive without their foreign aid.
The President also slammed the EU for warning of trade sanctions against the country.
He said the country can always trade with Russia, China, and other Asian countries.
“Don’t f*ck with us. We ASEAN members can export to each other. We can also have tariff-free,” he added.
Duterte also claimed that the country does not need any development aid from the EU that supposedly imposed certain conditions on the country.
“You are interfering in our affairs because we are poor. You give money and orchestrate on what things to be done. You bullsh*t. We are past the colonization stage,” he said. (With a report from Roy C. Mabasa)