Manila, Philippines (AP) – Incumbent Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has strongly criticized Russian leader Vladimir Putin for killing innocent civilians in Ukraine, saying before labeling the two as murderers: ” I kill criminals, I don’t kill children. And the elderly. “
Duterte first said this, openly calling Putin an idol and friend. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine In a statement Tuesday, he blamed the three -month war on rising world oil prices that is hurting many countries, including the Philippines.
Although Duterte stressed that he did not condemn the Russian president, Duterte disagreed with Putin’s attack on the “special military operation” and insisted that it was indeed an outright war against a “sovereign nation”.
“Many say that Putin and I will both die. I have long told Filipinos that I actually killed.” But I kill criminals, I don’t kill children and the elderly, “Duterte said in a weekly televised conference with senior cabinet officials. “We are in two different worlds”.
Duterte, who will step down on June 30 at the end of his turbulent six -year term, took the lead. Ugly drug crackdown As a result, more than 6,000 petty suspects were killed. Human rights groups cited larger victims and said innocent people, including children, were killed in a campaign that Duterte promised would remain in office until the last day.
There has been an unprecedented mass murder in the anti -drug campaign An investigation into As Possible Crime Against Humanity has been launched by the International Criminal Court. Duterte said that after his presidency, he expects there will be more trials that will result in drug -related deaths.
Duterte and his cops refused to sanction illegal killings in the campaign against illicit drugs, but openly threatened to kill the drug suspects and attempted to re -impose them. death penalty Detention of drug dealers and other criminals in the largest Roman Catholic country in Asia.
When he took office in 2016, he appealed to Russia and China to expand trade and investment and military cooperation, and often criticized Washington’s security policies under the long -standing Manila agreement.
He visited Russia twice to meet with Putin in 2017 and 2019, but his first visit was cut short after Islamic State militants besieged the southern Philippine city of Maraw while he was accompanied by his defense secretary and chief. of military staff.
More than a week after Russian forces besieged Ukraine, the Philippines supported a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s aggression. The Philippines has called for the protection of civilians and public infrastructure in Ukraine, but Duterte has refrained from harshly criticizing Putin, and said he would remain neutral in a conflict that could lead to the use of nuclear weapons and lead to World War III.
Responding to Putin “as a friend” and to the Russian embassy in Manila, Duterte urged them to stop bombing and artillery firing in residential areas and allow the safe evacuation of innocent civilians before the bombing begins.
“You control everything. Either way, you’ve started to get really naughty, so keep a close eye on your soldiers. “They are furious,” Duterte said.
Duterte said he was concerned about the stability of his country’s oil supplies as the war in Ukraine continues and continues. The challenge of global instability.
“I’m on my way and I don’t know how to fix it,” Duterte said. “You have to resolve the war between Ukraine and Russia before you can talk about returning to normal.”
Source: Huffpost
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.