Duterte: 'Insane leaders' like Hitler 'should be disposed instantly'

JERUSALEM – President Duterte on Monday called German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler "insane" and vowed to oppose any action that could lead to a repeat of the holocaust.

Duterte said the extermination of Jews during World War II was an "insanity" and expressed hope that the world would learn from what he described as a "horrific and berighted period of human history."

"I could not imagine of a country obey an insane leader. And I could not ever fathom the spectacle of a human being going into a killing spree, murdering old men, women, men, children, mother," Duterte said during his visit to Yad Vashem holocaust memorial center here.

"I would like to say that we are one in saying that it will not happen again and my country will be the first to voice (opposition to) such...massacre of a race just because of hate," he added.

Duterte said despots who show insanity "should be disposed of at the first instance."

About six million died during the holocaust, the systematic killing of Jews by German Nazis and their collaborators.

"We know the brutal and cruel journey of the Israelites. From one scattered generation, (they are) finally finding their place under the sun," he added.

During his visit to the children's memorial at the Yad Vashem, Duterte urged nations to provide sanctuary to persecuted people.

"Never again. May the hearts of peoples around the world remain ever open," Duterte wrote in the guest book of the memorial center.

"And may the minds of all men and women learn to work together towards providing a safe haven for all who are being persecuted."

In 2016, Duterte stirred controversy after comparing the killing of drug addicts with the massacre of Jews during the holocaust. The President has apologized for the remark and claimed that he never intended to disrespect the memory of the holocaust victims.