EU summons Philippine envoy over Duterte’s “unacceptable” remarks

March 28, 2017

The European Union summoned the Philippines' envoy in Brussels to explain the "unacceptable" remarks of President Rodrigo Duterte, who threatened to hang EU officials for opposing his efforts to restore death penalty.

"This afternoon, the European External Action Service asked the Chargé d'Affaires of the Philippines, Mr. Alan Deniega, to come to the EEAS this afternoon for a meeting with Deputy Secretary General, Jean-Christophe Belliard, as we wanted to receive an explanation for the recent, unacceptable comments of President Duterte," EU spokesperson Maja Kocijancic said in a statement on Monday.

Duterte criticized the EU for raising concerns over his deadly campaign against illegal drugs and his call to re-impose the death penalty.

"I will just be happy to hang you. If I have the preference, I'll hang all of you," Duterte said in his arrival statement last Friday after his visit to Myanmar and Thailand.

"You are putting us down. You are exerting pressure in every country with the death penalty."

Duterte criticized the EU for suggesting "a health-based solution" to the country's problem with illegal drugs. DMS