Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on October 2 apologized to Jews for comparing himself with Adolf Hitler but said he did nothing wrong and reiterated his desire to kill millions of drug addicts. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Aaron Favila
(Eagle News)– President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday (October 4) evening visited the Beit Yaacov Synagogue, a Jewish community synagogue, in Makati City to personally apologize for his statements on the Holocaust last week, saying it was never his intention to disrespect the Jewish people.
The Jewish community gathering in the Makati City synagogue was to celebrate the Rosh Hashanah or the 2016 Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is one of the most important holidays in Jewish tradition. It marks the beginning of the ten days of judgment that ends with Yom Kippur or ‘Day of Atonement’, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar
“First, I would like to greet you on your holiday. And second because I would like to apologize,” the President said at the start of his speech, where he decided not to read anymore a written speech prepared for the occasion.
Before his speech, Israel’s ambassador to the Philippines, Effie Ben Matityau, thanked the Philippines for opening the gates of the country to Jewish refugees during the time of then President Manuel Quezon, when Jews were being persecuted in Europe.
“You Mr. President know this story and is connected to this story,” Ambassador Matityau said.
He also thanked the Philippines for being the only country to vote for the creation of the state of Israel during the time of then President Manuel Roxas in 1948.
The Ambassador of Israel said the Philippines and ISrael have maintained a very healthy friendship that has endured and became stronger through the years.
The Jewish community also extended their appreciation to President Duterte and to all Filipinos for their warmth and hospitality.
Duterte said that his apology to all the Jewish people was sincere.
“It comes from the heart,” he added.
He then recounted his previous positions in government — that he had been a mayor of Davao City for 23 years, a congressman and a member of the assembly, a vice-mayor to his daughter Sara, and before that a prosecutor for 10 years.
“You know, it’s my character. I am easy to… That’s what I am, when I am I and you are you. And God created me to be this way I suppose,” he explained.
“There’s no law in my land that says I cannot threaten criminals,” the President said.
“… I will slaughter this three million drug addicts. But in doing so, I mentioned the word Jewish and that was what terribly wrong. And for that, I apologize,” he said.
Duterte said that he was truly sorry for that remark that had upset the Jewish community, but reiterated that he was really threatening the criminals in the country, particularly those involved in the illegal drug trade.
He said that with his threats, the drug pushers and the drug addicts might just get scared and stop.
“So it could be a deterrent,” he said.
“In the meantime, I am taking a hard stance. And it will be like this until the last pusher is taken out of the street,” Duterte said.
He said he would not stop in this goal even if it would take him all of his six years as President. He said he was even prepared to die for this.
“There are millions and millions of drug addicts and this will destroy the country. There is no other way to do it,” he said.
He mentioned that 6,000 barangay captains have been “doing their own thing, manufacturing shabu.”
“How I am supposed to deal with (them)? Narco-politics have entered my country, just like the failed states of South America,” Duterte said.
“I have sinned against you. I have apologized, if you accept it fine. If you don’t, I am really very sorry. It was not intended. It was just a mental slip of the numbers of three and Hitler. It has nothing to do with the memories of the Jews. Because in my country we do not tinker (with) the memories of our ancestors. That is a no-no. It was just the play of my tongue. Hitler for the number,” he explained.
“Because If I don’t interdict the problem now, then I will have a failed state by the next generation,” the President said.
That’s why I’m here. I really came here to say I’m sorry,” Duterte said.
He stressed he did not intend to insult the Jews with his remark.
Duterte also likened himself to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on how they both refuse the influence of US into their countries.