ASEAN, Obama silenced by photos of Moros killed by Americans —Duterte

Leaders present during the ASEAN-East Asia Summit on Thursday became speechless during a discussion on human rights violations when President Rodrigo Duterte presented the group with pictures of slain Moros during the US' military campaign in Mindanao in the 1900s, the Chief Executive has said.

Speaking to the Filipino community in Indonesia, Duterte said he presented "a few pages" of pictures of the US' so-called "pacification" efforts and was waiting for US President Barack Obama to respond.

Duterte said Obama did not.

“Ako, because of the pressure para huminto na sila. Sabi ko, ‘Since human rights was mentioned, I produced a few pages pictures in the Pacification campaign by the Americans at the turn of the century," Duterte said.

"Of the 600,000 Muslims, 6,000 were murdered. They were just buried in a common pit.’ Naghukay lang tapos iyong mga sundalo, pinapatungan lang ang mga dibdib ng mga babaeng nakahubad,” he added.

“‘This is human rights. What do you intend to do? Do not tell me this is water under the bridge. Human rights violation either committed by Moses or Abraham is still a violation of human rights. When was this philosophy about human dignity in the world evolved? Now? Or during this time?’” Duterte recalled telling the leaders.

The President said that the people inside the room were speechless when he showed them the photos.

The East Asia Summit was attended by ASEAN leaders as well as Obama and United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-Moon.

“Tumahimik sila. Kasi ako handa na ko. I was waiting for Obama to respond. Eh ito, abugado to abugado tayo. Sige daw. Wala. That was the only encounter. That was the only exchange at the holding room and when I said, ‘I never made that statement, check it out’,” Duterte said. 

“Kung tayo, violation. Sa kanila, hindi,” he added. —NB, GMA News