Duterte unapologetic about remarks vs. EU diplomats in PHL

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said he did nothing wrong when he told European Union diplomats to leave the country.

This, even as he later learned that the EU had nothing to do with the visit of Progressive Alliance and Party of European Socialists to the country. The group has criticized the Philippine government's war on drugs due to its high death toll

In a speech in Dumaguete City, Duterte faulted the ambassador of the EU Delegation in the Philippines for being silent about the socialist visitors.

"You know what? Johnny-come-lately, here comes the ambassador of EU to the Philippines disclaiming na iyong mga tao pumunta dito, itong mga leftist sa ibang lugar [na] hinihila ng left dito," Duterte said.

"Tapos kagabi, nakinig pala ang ambassadors, nag-text agad. 'They are not part of the EU.' Bakit hindi ka kaagad nagsabi? You kept your silence while they were yakking here," he added.

"Tama iyon. Tama iyong ginawa ko."

The seven-member delegation of the Progressive Alliance and Party of European Socialists has urged the Philippine government to stop the killings as they warned of strained trading relationships with the international community.

However, a fuming Duterte on Thursday told EU diplomats to leave the Philippines in 24 hours amid reports that the Philippines is at risk of being removed from the United Nations because of human rights violations.

The socialist delegation and the EU, however, made no such remarks. It was the New York-based Human Rights Watch which warned of a possible expulsion of the Philippines from the UN Human Rights Council—and not the UN—because of the spate in extrajudicial killings.

Still cutting ties?

In his taped interview with broadcaster Erwin Tulfo that aired on state-run People’s Television on Friday night, Duterte reiterated his dare.

“I will ask a listing for who these persons represented what country. And I will be glad to sign a letter of resignation of our diplomatic relationship,” he said.

“I am prepared to lose all diplomatic relationships with all of the European countries now. Do not ever, ever come to the Philippines. You’re not allowed to enter here now. I will write that letter. Sirain natin,” he added.

The interview was taped a few hours after Duterte told the EU diplomats to leave the country.

However, Duterte did not express this sentiment in his speech on Friday night. — KBK/BAP, GMA News