Rody hits Amnesty, NYT over drug war remarks

MANILA, Philippines - Saying that he is not an advocate for human rights, President Duterte belittled the call of watchdog group Amnesty International for the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a stand on his bloody war against illegal drugs.

Duterte also lashed out at the New York Times over its Editorial saying the President should be stopped as well as his drug campaign marred by thousands of extrajudicial killings.

Rather than stopping him on his tracks, Duterte said the NYT should stop publication for being biased.

“It’s about time that their publication must also stop,” the President said after his bilateral talks with Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in Malacañang.

He also called the NYT an “asshole” for focusing on the Philippine situation when it “cannot even criticize your own state” for invading a “sovereign country” like Panama and arresting its former leader Manuel Noriega.

Duterte said he is out to build a country for the next generation.

Addressing human rights groups, Duterte reiterated he is building a country for a better future.

“You know human rights (groups), I am not a worker for human rights. I am a President trying to build a nation,” he said. 

“If you really think that I am that small in your perception. You better think twice. I am trying here to build a nation, including wiping out drugs that will harm the country and compromise the tomorrow of our children,” Duterte said.

Duterte, apparently upbeat after the bilateral talks with Bolkiah, said the drug war will not stop regardless of the condemnation from local and foreign human rights groups.

The campaign against illegal drugs will be in the same intensity as he deals with terrorism.

Duterte also belittled the call of Amnesty International for the ASEAN leaders to take a stand against possible crimes against humanity as they meet for the 30th ASEAN summit in Manila.

“That is not an issue. You are funny. Bakit kayo makialam sa amin dito? Magagalit pa yung mga president ng… you look at the sins of other nations first, God damn it! Do not zero in (on Philippines),” he said.

Duterte also linked Filipino-American businesswoman Loida Nicolas Lewis as possibly behind the smear campaign against him.

“Politika yan, pera ni Loida yan. Mga friends sa America, pakuno. Go ahead, go with the trial, let us see,” he said.

Asked about the sentiments of ASEAN leaders if they support his anti-drug campaign, Duterte challenged the media to ask China, Singapore, Indonesia and even the United States about their most pressing concerns.

After repeatedly saying that he is ready to be imprisoned for his anti-drug stance, Duterte raised a provision under the Revised Penal Code that one can be prosecuted for criminal violations.