Duterte rejects trial before international court

BY GENALYN KABILING

President Duterte declared Thursday that he was not stupid to let the “animals” in the international court put him on trial over the drug-related killings in the country.

“Mga ulol kayo. Pati ako i-demanda nila, ‘yong International Court of Justice dahil doon sa Hague, it’s in Europe (You’re crazy. They tried to sue me before the International Court of Justice based in the Hague, it’s in Europe),” Duterte said during the government assembly on efforts to address the local armed communist conflict in Leyte.

“Ngayon, gusto nila ako magharap doon. Ano ako gago? (Now they want me to face trial? Do you think I’m stupid?),” he added.

Duterte has refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the international court, saying he would only face trial in the country.

“Magharap ako ng korte na ang judge Pilipino (I will only face the court where the judge is a Filipino)” he said.

“Hindi man ako magharap doon sa mga animal na ‘yan. Wala naman akong… Sabi ko, not in a million years (I will not face those animals. I said not in a million years,” he said.

The President made the comment shortly after criticizing the human rights groups for supposedly dwelling on the numbers of slain drug suspects instead of their victims. He told them that there were “two sides of the coin.”

Duterte, who vowed an unrelenting anti-drug crackdown, explained that he warned those who will destroy the nation with illegal drugs.

“Galit na galit talaga ako sa droga. Do not destroy my country. Do not destroy our daughters and sons. Kung ayaw mong mamatay, drop. Bitawan mo ang shabu (I really hate drugs. Do not destroy my country. Do not destroy our daughters and son. If you don’t want to die, drop the shabu),” he said.

“Kasi pag-abot natin kung magka-engkwentro tayo diyan sa corner, patay ka talaga. Ganyan ako katindi sa droga na iyan,” he said.

Duterte launched an aggressive campaign against the illegal trade since the start of his term in 216. The anti-drug crackdown however drew criticisms from groups here and abroad for the alleged extrajudicial killings and other abuses. (Genalyn Kabiling)