FILE PHOTO: President Rodrigo Duterte. ROBINSON NIÑAL / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he would “be happy” to go to jail over his directive to kill communist rebels, as he believes he won’t last long behind bars due to his old age.
In an anti-communism event in Tacloban City, Duterte said he would not think twice to tell the public if he ordered the killing of rebels.
“Kung ako ang nagpapatay, sabihin ko sa inyo. ‘Pinapatay ko ‘yang p******** ‘yan kasi g*** ‘yan. Hindi ako magdadalawawang-isip,” Duterte said.
(If I were the one who ordered their killing, I would tell you. I ordered the killing of those b******* to because that s** o* a b**** is a fool. I won’t think twice.)
“Patayin human rights? Okay. Pasok ako sa kulungan? Good. I’d be happy, tutal matanda na rin ako. Hindi ako magtagal sa preso na ‘yan,” he added.
(Kill human rights? Okay. Put me in jail? Good. I’d be happy because I’m old anyway. I won’t last long in prison.)
Duterte then repeated his order for police and military to kill armed communist rebels.
“Sabi ko sa military, patayin mo. Ayokong makita ang sundalo ko sa kabaong. Sila ang gusto kong makita na nakalantad d’yan na patay. ‘Yun ang gusto ko kasi ako ang presidente,” he said.
(I told the military, kill them. I don’t want to see my soldiers in a coffin. They are the ones I want to see lying dead. That’s what I want because I’m the President.)
READ: Duterte order to police, military on Reds: ‘Kill them all’
After the President issued such a directive early this March, nine activists were killed in simultaneous police operations across Calabarzon.