Filtered By: Topstories
News

Envoy: Japanese people find Duterte interesting, not controversial


Japanese people are “fascinated” by the government of President Rodrigo Duterte who is set to visit Japan for the third time since assuming office in 2016, Philippine Ambassador to Tokyo Jose Laurel V said Tuesday.

Duterte, who will fly to Japan on Tuesday, is scheduled to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and speak at the 25th International Conference on The Future of Asia on Friday.

“The reason why the President is brought here is that the Japanese -- it’s not Abe alone -- it’s the Japanese that are in themselves fascinated by his [Duterte] government,” Laurel told reporters in Tokyo.

“The Japanese are always fascinated with leadership that is recognized, affirmed by their own people at the same time a tremendous political will insofar as his programs are concerned. So he is not controversial but interesting. Ibang klase for the Japanese.”

Laurel credited Duterte for his efforts to bring down the fruits of a growing economy to the grassroots level.

“This President has been able to move the economy with trickled down effects,” he said. “The government is executing programs.”

The envoy also said the Japanese are also “interested in quality leadership that leads the nation.”

Duterte has received condemnation from Western countries for his war on drugs and controversial remarks on the Holocaust but he remains hugely popular at home.

Roundly condemned by local and international human rights groups due to its alleged heavy-handed approach, the war on drugs has killed more than 5,000 drug suspects, based on government data, since Duterte assumed office in 2016.

Duterte, who is facing two communications before the International Criminal Court over the drug war, had repeatedly said he could not be indicted for extrajudicial killings, saying there is no such crime under the the country’s Revised Penal Code.

He also said authorities can only use deadly force if their lives are in danger when drug suspects resist arrest. — RSJ, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT