Duterte: ‘Bitch’ De Lima made world believe she’s prisoner of conscience

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday called detained senator Leila de Lima as the “only bitch” who made the world believe she is a “prisoner of conscience.”

At a joint meeting of the National Task Force-Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict held in Tacloban City, Duterte belittled de Lima’s receiving of various awards from Europeans. He then called Europeans “ulol” – fools, foolish or crazy in English.

“She is the only bitch na napaniwala niya ang mundo na she is a prisoner of conscience,” Duterte said.

“Binigyan pa ng mga award nitong mga loko-loko na Europeans. Kaya ako galit dyan sa Europeans, hindi ako makipagusap. Ayoko. Mga ulol kayo,” he also said.

(Europeans even give her an award. That’s why I’m mad at them, I don’t talk to them. I don’t want to. You fools.)

De Lima, a staunch critic of Duterte and his administration, has been in detention since February 2017 for drug-related charges which she has vehemently denied.

Recently, the legislator claimed “moral victory” after she was acquitted in one of three drug cases filed against her.

Duterte also repeated that he will not allow the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take jurisdiction over him.

“Ngayon, gusto nila ako magharap doon (ICC). Ano ako, gago? Magharap ako ng korte na ang judge ay Pilipino. Hindi ako magharap doon sa mga animal. Sabi ko, not in a million years,” he said.

(Now they want me to appear there. What am I, a fool? I will only appear before a court where the judge is a Filipino. I won’t face those animals. Not in a million years.)

The Supreme Court has dismissed petitions challenging the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC.

In light of this, Malacañang urged the ICC to stop wasting its time in investigating matters concerning the Philippines.

KGA