By Genalyn Kabiling
The latest blistering criticism of US National Security Adviser John Bolton against the International Criminal Court (ICC) was “refreshing to us,” President Duterte declared Thursday amid his renewed warning to the body “not to f*ck” with the country.
President Rodrigo Duterte (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The President has welcomed Bolton’s attack on the international court, adding he also never regretted his profanity-laced tirade against the ICC for meddling in the country’s affairs, particularly his war on illegal drugs.
“It’s good that there is international pressure sa ICC kasi binull-shit sila ni Bolton. He’s really a very far right yan sa America, bata ni Trump. He has criticized ang ICC pero ngayong na lang,” Duterte said during his visit to a military camp in Capas, Tarlac.
“The timely word of Bolton now is quite refreshing to us lalo na ako ang pinakamaingay noon. Binastos ko sila, binabastos nila tayo (especially since I was the noisiest before. I disrespected them because they disrespected us) I only bow to the Filipino people. I will not bow to anybody,” he added.
Bolton recently threatened the ICC officials with sanctions if they continue an investigation into the alleged war crimes by American troops in Afghanistan. He said the US would not cooperate with the ICC, adding the ICC was “already dead to us.”
The President claimed that he was actually the first to “bullsh*t” the ICC for interference in local affairs, and he does not regret it.
The ICC earlier opened a preliminary probe into the alleged crimes against humanity committed in the President’s war on illegal drugs.
“If you’ve noticed hindi naman ako nagyayabang. Tayo ‘yung nauna at hindi lang tayo pumayag. Binull-shit ko. Sabi ko p**** i** ninyo (If you’ve noticed, I’m not boasting, we were the first to bullsht them and I really did not allow it. I said, you son of a btch),” he said.
“I said do not fuck with my country. Mas marunong pa kayo kung ano gawin sa problema (You think you’re better than us and know how to address our problem),” he added.
Duterte said he could only accept criticisms from Filipinos but not foreigners finding fault in government. “If I fell short, then as a Filipino that is your right to criticize and even slam me. I would never, never take it against it you,” he said.
He explained that the country was facing a “virulent” drug problem, adding he would sustain the campaign against the menace.
With the government’s intensified anti-drug operations, he said drug dealers were forced to import illegal drugs because they are cheaper.
“If I renege, pag umatras ako dito, kawawa ang batang Pilipino,” he said.
In March, the President announced the country’s withdrawal from the ICC over violation of due process, constitutional presumption of innocence, among others. He said the Rome Statute, ratified by the Senate in 2011, was not enforceable in the country since it was not published in the Official Gazette, a legal requirement before a law takes effect.
The ICC announced that it would continue with its preliminary examination into the alleged crimes linked to Duterte’s brutal drug war despite the Philippines’ pullout from the Rome Statute.