Duterte hits anew ICC, Trillanes; insists he never killed anyone

December 17, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has slammed anew the International Criminal Court where a communication against him for alleged crimes against humanity due to his administration's war on drugs has been lodged.

In a taped televised message on Wednesday night, Duterte said all his acts were to protect the public as he never killed anyone.

"Public interest, protect the public...for Christ's sake...do not make it hard for the people to survive. I've been telling you, I intend just to make the Philippines a comfortable place," he said.

"I'm doing everything. I'm even charged before the International Court...they thought there was no preparation. The fools were not reading," Duterte stressed.

ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, in her latest report, said there is a "reasonable basis" to believe that crimes against humanity were committed due to Duterte's war on illegal drugs.

The complaint against Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity was filed by some Filipinos, including former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Duterte's known critic.

Duterte, in the same televised message, again castigated Trillanes, who said that "time for reckoning is near for Duterte, his cohorts, and enbalers" following Bensouda's report.

"Every time I look at you (Trillanes), you're a shit of a dog," he said.

Duterte said he was not afraid to get in jail.

"If it is my destiny to be in jail, so be it," he said.

He also reiterated that he never killed anyone contrary to the alleged extrajudicial killings hurled against his administration due to war on drugs.

"I didn't kill anyone. I have lots here in my heart, I have lots of dead love," he said.

About 6,000 individuals have been killed in the war on drugs since Duterte assumed office in 2016. Celerina Monte/DMS