(MENAFN- NewsBytes)
Duterte threatens to expel EU envoys over drug war criticism
13 Oct 2017
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to expel ambassadors from all EU countries within 24 hours, accusing the bloc of plotting to have Manila expelled from the UN. He didn't provide any evidence of this.
In an explosive, expletive-laden speech, Duterte accused the EU of interfering in Philippine's domestic affairs.
The comments came after a Western delegation criticized his controversial and violent drug war.
Duterte to EU: "Don't f**k with us"
What Duterte said?
Duterte said, "We will be excluded in the UN? You son of a b***h. Go ahead."
"You give us money then you start to orchestrate what things should be done and which should not happen in our country. You bullshit. We are past the colonisation stage. Don't f**k with us."
Addressing the EU envoys, he said, "You leave my country in 24-hours."
Philippines justifies Duterte's "expression of outrage"
Justification
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte's speech was an "expression of outrage" against the criticism by International Delegates of the Progressive Alliance, a small group of European lawmakers who condemned the drug war while visiting Manila on October 9.
He accused the group of "falsely" portraying itself as an EU mission.
He said the group's "irresponsible statements" justified Duterte's threat to expel EU envoys.
EU clarifies stance, rejects Duterte's claims of UN expulsion
EU clarification
The EU responded to Duterte's comments saying the International Delegates of the Progressive Alliance was not on an EU mission "as falsely reported by some media outlets."
"The EU and the Philippines work constructively and productively together in a close partnership in many contexts and areas, including, of course, in the UN context," it added.
Duterte has attacked the EU in the past too
Chequered history
This isn't the first time Duterte has slammed the EU for criticizing his drug war.
Last year, Duterte made an expletive-laden speech against the EU, calling former colonial powers such as Britain and France "hypocritical."
Duterte's drug war has attracted widespread international condemnation over his endorsement of extrajudicial killings.
Since Duterte took office last year, police claim they've killed over 3,850 people.
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