Duterte in the Holy Land
President Duterte is currently on an official visit to Israel. While in the Holy Land, some interesting things have been happening. He proclaims belief in a “Supreme God,” the god supposedly passed on to him by his parents. He did not say anything derogatory about God while he was in the Holy Land. Why would he? He claims to have never said he did not believe in God. That is actually not true, because he called him “stupid”. If he does not believe, there is no reason for him to call God “stupid”, and criticizing original sin. He has since said “sorry” to God. I wonder if he will visit the birthplace and crucifixion site of Jesus Christ?
He visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Center in Jerusalem and said “never again.” He wrote a poignant message in the guest book. He even called Hitler insane, and called for the immediate disposal of despots and insane leaders. Interesting thought. This is the first visit by a Philippine president to the country, and to the memorial center. That’s good. What’s not good is an Israeli newspaper with a scathing editorial with regards to Duterte’s visit. It seems the newspaper has not forgotten Duterte’s comparison to Hitler, saying that Hitler killed three million Jews during World War II, and so he would also like to kill three million drug addicts. His remarks incensed so many people, that he was forced to apologize for what he said. And six million Jews lost their lives to Hitler, not three million.
But the newspaper still criticized him, saying Duterte had no place in Israel because of his violation of human rights in his bloody campaign against illegal drugs, support of rape, and so on. According to Roque, the article shows freedom of the press in Israel. But isn’t Duterte incensed whenever his campaign against illegal drugs is criticized, and he is called out for human rights violations? In the Philippines, isn’t he mad at newspapers that call out his bloody war on drugs, extrajudicial killings, and human rights violations? Maybe he will just vent his anger on the Israeli newspaper when he returns. His tongue must be itching to curse the editorial to high heavens.
Now, the most vocal critic of the president has just been stripped of his amnesty, and was ordered arrested and charged by both civilian and military courts. Duterte revoked the amnesty given by former president Aquino to Senator Trillanes for his mutinies in 2003 at Oakwood and in 2007 at the Manila Peninsula. According to this administration Trillanes did not apply for amnesty and never admitted to his crimes. But according to Trillanes, why would he be given amnesty, if he did not apply? There is even a YouTube video showing Trillanes applying for amnesty in 2011. It would be interesting to see how this case progresses, with many already calling it political persecution, even as the Palace denies it. It seems Senator Trillanes will be going the same way as Senator de Lima. No political persecution? Really?
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