The president called the UN “inutile” and pronounced that the country would leave the organization if criticisms continue.
Fiery President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to have the Philippines leave the United Nations Organization (UN) shall the criticisms against the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign continue.
The president made the statement on early Sunday morning following a statement from UN special rapporteurs Agnes Callamard and Dainius Puras calling on the Philippine government to stop the extrajudicial killings of persons linked to illegal drugs.
“Maybe we’ll just have to decide to separate from the United Nations. Eh kung ganiyan kayo kabastos eh p– ina, umalis na kami diyan sa inyo,” he said.
“When were you here the last time? Never. Except to criticize… When have you done a good deed to my country? We are contributing money”.
(Maybe we’ll just have to decide to separate from the United Nations. If you are that rude, we will be leaving you. )
Duterte also raised the possibility of forming another international organization along with China and African and Middle Eastern countries.
Duterte emphasized that he meant it when he said that the Philippines would leave thr organization.
“The joke is on you. You have to refund me with so many contributions we have made all these years,” he added.
“Isauli ninyo yung mga contributions (You refund our contributions), we would go out. We contribute a certain amount for the maintenance of UN, right? You return the money to us and we will go out. With that amount I can build so many rehab centers”.
Duterte had previously criticized the U.N. for its supposed inaction in other global conflicts like the war in Syria.
Earlier in his speech, however, Duterte said he is willing to meet with U.N. representatives to answer questions about the deaths, as well as to show statistics on the effectiveness of the campaign.
“I will explain extra-judicial killings, for international release, if you want,” he said. “My orders are for the police to go out and hunt for criminals. I tell them to arrest these criminals if they surrender peacefully, but kill them if they put up a violent struggle. I assume full responsibility for what happens.”
Duterte also said his campaign has encouraged law enforcers to shoot dangerous criminals to death, rather than be defeated by long-winded court cases.
“My job as President is to protect law-abiding citizens,” he said. “I was never tasked by any law to protect criminals. I say this because 16 million people voted for me and I have a large margin between me and the next candidate”.