Pubdate: Thu, 29 Dec 2016
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Copyright: 2016 Chicago Tribune Company
Contact:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/82

DUTERTE THREATENS TO THROW CORRUPT OFFICIALS OUT OF A HELICOPTER

- -- and says he's done it before

In his latest controversial statement, Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte, known for his bloody anti-drug war that has killed thousands,
threatened to throw corrupt officials out of a helicopter, saying he has
done it before, to a kidnapper, and won't hesitate to do it again.

"I will pick you up in a helicopter to Manila, and I will throw you out on
the way," Duterte said in Tagalog in front of a crowd in the Camarines Sur
province Tuesday, according to GMA News. "I've done it before. Why would I
not do it again?"

The Filipino president was visiting areas of the province in the northern
island of Luzon that were recently affected by the deadly Typhoon
Nock-Ten, locally known as Nina. The storm, one of the strongest since
Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Philippines' Visayas region in 2014, killed at
least six people and displaced hundreds of thousands, according to the
Philippine Star.

In his speech, Duterte announced that he was going to give up to 100
million pesos in financial assistance, in addition to 1 billion pesos that
was set aside for calamities, the Philippine Star reported.

After that announcement, he went on to talk about his campaign against
drugs and corruption.

The former mayor and prosecutor, who rose to power on a promise to uproot
his country's drug problem, has become famous for his brash talks and
public outbursts.

He made headlines in April, when he was campaigning for the presidency,
for making a joke about an Australian minister who was gang-raped and
killed in 1989 in a Davao prison. At that time, Duterte was mayor of the
southern city of Davao.

In August, he warned terrorists that he can be "10 times" more brutal than
the Islamic State.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte affirmed on Friday that he shot dead
three people as mayor, dismissing any uncertainty and displaying no
remorse.

"I don't really know how many bullets from my gun went inside their
bodies," he said. "It happened. I cannot lie about it."

His confirmation,...

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte affirmed on Friday that he shot dead
three people as mayor, dismissing any uncertainty and displaying no
remorse.

"I don't really know how many bullets from my gun went inside their
bodies," he said. "It happened. I cannot lie about it."

Most recently, Duterte admitted that he had personally killed people. He
told a local radio station last month that he killed several criminals
during his time as mayor. He specifically talked about killing three men
who kidnapped and raped a Chinese girl in 1988, when he was only a few
months into his term. He said that during the encounter, the men were
holding carbines and didn't raise their hands when they were told, so he
shot them.

Vitaliano Aguirre II, Duterte's justice secretary, cautioned that the
president is prone to hyperbole and exaggeration, according to ABS-CBN
News.

Following Duterte's claims, the U.N. human rights chief, Zeid Ra'ad Al
Hussein, urged the Philippines' judicial branch to launch a murder
investigation.

"It should be unthinkable for any functioning judicial system not to
launch investigative and judicial proceedings when someone has openly
admitted being a killer," Zeid said in a statement, adding, "The killings
described by President Duterte also violate international law, including
the right to life, freedom from violence and force, due process and fair
trail, equal protection before the law, and innocence until proven
guilty."

Zeid also addressed Duterte's anti-drug war, saying it has emboldened law
enforcement to commit violence without accountability and is a "direct
violation of all democratic safeguards that have been established to
uphold justice and the rule of law."

More than 6,000 have been killed since Duterte took office on June 30.
Some were killed during encounters with police who were acting under the
government's orders, while others were killed by unknown vigilantes.
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