MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte said he will never face an international tribunal hearing regarding the country’s war on drugs amid a resolution from United National Human Rights Council (UNHRC) calling for an investigation.
In a television interview on Wednesday morning, President Duterte stressed he will just face trial in trial in a Philippine court, presided by a Filipino judge and prosecuted by a Filipino.
“I have my country. Justice is working here. Maybe they can reimpose death penalty and die in Filipino land,” he said in an interview with Apollo Quiboloy’s program over Sonshine Media Network.
Independent experts has earlier urged the UN Human Rights Council to launch an independent investigation into what they called a sharp deterioration in human rights across the Philippines due to “staggering number” of what they call violent and unlawful killings of drug suspects.
“I will not answer a Caucasian, asking question white man there. You must be stupid. Who are you? I am a Filipino. We have our courts here. You have to bring me somewhere else? I would not like that,” he added.
“It is only when there is a total breakdown of justice in a country that nobody is willing to prosecute you. My God, the yellow, the Otso Diretso are itching to go to trial,” the President said.
The UNHRC has adopted a resolution at the 41st regular session of the council in Geneva. Of the 47 member-states, 18 voted in favor of conducting an investigation into the Philippines’ war on drugs.
Even with the backlash, President Duterte said that he will continue to make strides in fighting illegal drugs and corruption in government in order to preserve the accomplishments.
“What I promised was, if elected president, I would return the right of the citizens to use the streets, alleys, parks and all without fear. I have, I think, I made my mark very clear,” he said.
“Whether they like it or not, I will continue what I started to the very end. If the end brings me out alright, what is said against me won’t amount to anything. But if the end brings me out wrong, 10 angels of God swearing I was right would make no difference,” he added./PN
