Duterte willing to accept Rohingya refugees, calls out European nations

President Duterte said he is willing to accept and welcome Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, as long as European countries would do the same.

Duterte issued the statement as he slammed the United Nations (UN) anew for criticizing him over the deaths and alleged human rights violations linked to the relentless war on drugs. More pressing matters Duterte said that the UN cannot outright criticize him and the Philippines when there are more serious issues, including the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

"So huwag kayong maniwala nitong… Hindi nga nila ma-solve-solve ‘yung [Rohingya]. 'Yun ang genocide talaga, if I may say so. Kaibigan ko pa naman ‘yung babae (Don't believe them. They cannot even solve the Rohingya crisis. That is genocide, if I may say so. I'm even friends with that woman)," he said, referring to Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Shared duties

"The way it’s being presented to the world. Kawawa talaga ang mga tao doon (People there are really pitiful). Me? We? I’m willing to accept refugees. Rohingyas, yes. I will --- pero hati-hati tayo sa Europe (But Europe should do the same)," he added.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, in a press briefing in Tanauan, Leyte, said that the Philippines can accommodate a large number of Rohingya refugees.

Open door for refugees "The Philippines has always had an open door policy for refugees," Roque said, recalling how the Philippines erected the Philippine Refugee Processing Center (PRPC) in Morong, Bataan which was used as the final stop for Indochinese refugees making their way to permanent resettlement in other nations during the early 80s.

"Halos lahat ng refugees na binigyan ng refugee status ay dumaan muna sa Pilipinas (Almost all refugees who were given refugee status back then had gone to the Philippines first). So it is in that kind of tradition that the President stated that we're willing to open our doors to Rohingya refugees," Roque said.

Rohingyas’ plight

Aung San Suu Kyi has been heavily criticized for her supposed inaction on the massive crackdown on Rohingya Muslims who are treated as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar trying to escape the violent military crackdown wherein soldiers set fire to homes and shot civilians as they tried to escape.