PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, March 10, threatened to feed to crocodiles any special rapporteur from the United Nations (UN) who will investigate his campaign against illegal drugs.
In another profanity-laced tirade, the President lashed out at UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein for denouncing his order to the Philippine National Police (PNP) not to cooperate in any UN human rights investigation.
He said his directive has legal basis and is provided for by the 1987 Constitution.
"This son of a b****, stupid chief of (UN Human Rights Council)..., they were irked because (my advice to the police is), 'Do not answer question[s] from them. And that is for a reason (that is) legal. That is provided for in the Constitution itself, our Constitution," Duterte said during his camp visit to Zamboanga City.
"So these stupid (members of the UN) will go here. Are there crocodiles here that eat people? Throw those b****** [there]," he added.
Duterte made the remark three days after Zeid said he deplored Duterte's instruction to the policemen to ignore inquiries into the alleged human rights violations associated with his anti-narcotics war.
Zeid mentioned the Philippines, specifically Duterte's order to the police, among 62 countries with significant developments, both positive and negative, in terms of human rights as part of his report to the 37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
"The (Philippine) government has a duty to uphold human rights and to engage with persons appointed by this Council," said Zeid. The Philippines is among the 47 member-states of the UN Human Rights Council.
On Saturday, Duterte reiterated his order to the police to keep their silence, as he feared that responding to any questions might implicate them.
He repeated his assurance that he would take "full responsibility," as long as the members of the PNP are fulfilling their mandate "within the bounds of the law."
"The rule on criminal law is any statement or answer that you will give might incriminate you. If you said something when they hound you with questions, and you're free-willing (to answer), and they record it, you are bound (to pay) for everything you say, when they summon you," he said.
"So the best way is to give silence. There's a Commander-in-Chief. I told you already, I take full responsibility. Just do your job in the performance of your duty within the bounds of the law," Duterte added. (SunStar Philippines)