Duterte says human rights activists should be given Valium

President Rodrigo Duterte gives a speech at the oath taking of his recent appointees at Heroes Hall in Malacañang Palace, Manila on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. (Photo from an RTVM video)

Human rights advocates – particularly those who have been criticizing killings linked to the campaign against illegal drugs – should be given Valium to keep them  calm, President Rodrigo Duterte said o Wednesday.

“Itong mga human rights [advocates], bilihan mo lang na ng medisina na pang-kalma – Valium.. Painumin mo lang. Patulugin mo lang yang mga yawa na yan. Yan naman ang ano na yan. When the monkey rides on their back, gaganun lang, kasi naghahanap na. Pag walang pera yan, maghahanap talaga ng pera yan, because they will not be at ease… That’s the characterization of an addict ,” Duterte said in a speech before the mass oath-taking of newly-appointed government officials at Heroes Hall in Malacañang.

Duterte was lamenting human rights advocates who had been accusing his administration of committing extrajudicial killings without providing details of how they were killed. /atm