(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday (September 9) confirmed reports that he showed in front of leaders present during ASEAN-East Asia Summit pictures of killed Moros during the “pacification efforts” of United States in the 1900’s.
He told the whole story during his speech to the Filipino community in Indonesia.
Duterte said he presented “a few pages” of the photographs during the leaders’ discussion of human rights violations.
“Ako, because of the pressure para huminto na sila. Sabi ko, ‘Since human rights was mentioned, I produced a few pages pictures in the Pacification campaign by the Americans at the turn of the century,” Duterte said.
According to Duterte, he waited for US President Barack Obama to respond, but he did not.
“‘This is human rights. What do you intend to do? Do not tell me this is water under the bridge. Human rights violation either committed by Moses or Abraham is still a violation of human rights. When was this philosophy about human dignity in the world evolved? Now? Or during this time?’” Duterte recalled.
President Duterte added that all of the people inside the room were speechless when he showed the photos.
“Tumahimik sila. Kasi ako handa na ko. I was waiting for Obama to respond. Eh ito, abugado to abugado tayo. Sige daw. Wala. That was the only encounter. That was the only exchange at the holding room and when I said, ‘I never made that statement, check it out’,” Duterte stressed.
“Kung tayo, violation. Sa kanila, hindi,” he added.
