MANILA, Philippines – “It’s yours.”
In an apparent hit at Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, President Rodrigo Duterte said he does not care about awards given to his critics.
Ressa, together with slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Capital Gazette, and Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were given Persons of the Year award, citing that “they are are representative of a broader fight by countless others around the world — as of Dec. 10, at least 52 journalists have been murdered in 2018 — who risk all to tell the story of our time.”
READ: Ressa, Khashoggi, other journalists named Time Person of the Year
Ressa is facing tax evasion charges in the country. She has accused the government of persecuting her because Rappler’s critical reporting of the government.
READ: Palace denies hand in charges vs Rappler, Maria Ressa
“Alam mo itong mga human rights. “Look at Duterte.” They go everywhere. Seven hundred— a time of the — a time of the magazine — woman of the century and all. Inyo na ‘yan,” he said during former senator Manny Villar’s birthday celebration in Las Piñas.
“Ako simple lang ako. I’m a worker of government and I work for the people. The long and short of my oath is: I have to protect the people of the Republic of the Philippines and I have to preserve the nation. Wala nang iba,” he added.
Duterte again defended his brutal war on drugs, which has gained global condemnation for alleged human rights violations.
“Let me repeat it again for all. Do not go into drugs because if you do that, I will kill you. If you destroy our children, then I’ll just have to kill you. I do not take anything back. I state it with more clarity every time. Do not f*** with my country,” he said.
“Kaya pagka pumasok ka diyan and even if I’m the only one trying to answer or to justify my actuations, I will do it. As I have said, even if it would cost my freedom. I will go to prison,” he said. /ee