Duterte ‘insulted’ as Trudeau raises drug war issues

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte chats with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN)-Canada 40th Anniversary Commemorative Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center on November 14, 2017. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte described the move of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to raise questions on the human rights violations related to the government’s drug war as a “personal and official result.”

“You know, I was elected by the people of the Republic of the Philippines. I only answer to the people of the Republic of the Philippines.

But for the others, I just said, what happened to the right to be heard? I told him, ‘did it not occur to you to wonder why?’ What they only presented was extrajudicial killing but they could not produce what happened, when and how,” Duterte said in a news conference after the closing ceremony of the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings.

“I will not explain. It is a personal and official insult. That is why you hear me throwing down epithets, cursing and saying b*** sh***, everything. It angers me when you are a foreigner, you do not know exactly what is happening in this country. You do not investigate,” he added.

Earlier, Trudeau said Duterte was “receptive” as he discussed the supposed extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations in the Philippines during his “very cordial and positive exchange” with Duterte on the sidelines of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings.

Trudeau said he discussed with Duterte the need to respect the rule of law.

“Canada is a country that always brings up human rights issues and strongly engages in line with our values everywhere around the world. Countries around the world have learned to accept and expect that of Canada even as we engage constructively on other ways on economics, trade and benefits for our people,” Trudeau said.

“As I mentioned to President Duterte, we are concerned with human rights, the extrajudicial killings. I impressed upon him the need to respect the rule of law and, as always, offered Canada’s support and help as a friend to help move forward on what is a real challenge,” he said.

On the latest count, the government said 3,967 have been killed in the crackdown against illegal drugs as of October 2017. However, human rights advocates claimed the number is around 13,000.

The prime minister said he is keen to help other nations in the development of their justice system, policing, and governance.

“These are things that Canada can share best practices and help countries move along in a way that creates opportunities, stability and security for their citizens,” Trudeau said.