DAVAO: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday likened his deadly crime war to Hitler’s efforts to exterminate Jews, as he declared he was “happy to slaughter” millions of drug addicts.
Duterte also railed against Western critics of his unprecedented law-and-order crackdown, which has left more than 3,000 people dead in three months and raised concerns about a breakdown in the rule of law in one of Asia’s most chaotic democracies.
“Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there are three million drug addicts (in the Philippines). I’d be happy to slaughter them,” Duterte told reporters in his home city of Davao, although he vastly underestimated the number of people killed in the Holocaust by the Nazi leader’s regime.
“At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have,” he said, then paused. “But you know, my victims, I would like to be (sic) all criminals to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition.”
His analogy with Adolf Hitler, whose campaign to wipe out Jews in Europe led to about six million deaths by the end of World War II, triggered more condemnation.
“Any comparison of the singular atrocities of the Holocaust with anything else is totally unacceptable,” German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer told reporters.
World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder described Duterte’s comments as “revolting” and demanded he apologize.
“What President Duterte said is not only profoundly inhumane, but it demonstrates an appalling disrespect for human life,” Lauder said.
US-based Jewish group the Anti-Defamation League said the comments were "inappropriate and deeply offensive."
Communications director Todd Gutnick said it was "baffling why any leader would want to model himself after such a monster."
Duterte also railed against Western critics of his unprecedented law-and-order crackdown, which has left more than 3,000 people dead in three months and raised concerns about a breakdown in the rule of law in one of Asia’s most chaotic democracies.
“Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there are three million drug addicts (in the Philippines). I’d be happy to slaughter them,” Duterte told reporters in his home city of Davao, although he vastly underestimated the number of people killed in the Holocaust by the Nazi leader’s regime.
“At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have,” he said, then paused. “But you know, my victims, I would like to be (sic) all criminals to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition.”
His analogy with Adolf Hitler, whose campaign to wipe out Jews in Europe led to about six million deaths by the end of World War II, triggered more condemnation.
“Any comparison of the singular atrocities of the Holocaust with anything else is totally unacceptable,” German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer told reporters.
World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder described Duterte’s comments as “revolting” and demanded he apologize.
“What President Duterte said is not only profoundly inhumane, but it demonstrates an appalling disrespect for human life,” Lauder said.
US-based Jewish group the Anti-Defamation League said the comments were "inappropriate and deeply offensive."
Communications director Todd Gutnick said it was "baffling why any leader would want to model himself after such a monster."
