MANILA, Philippines — The European Union on Monday summoned a Philippine envoy to explain an expletive-laden tirade by President Rodrigo Duterte, who threatened to hang EU officials for opposing his efforts to re-impose the death penalty.
The EU's external action service, the equivalent of a foreign office, said it hauled Charge d'Affaires Alan Deniega in to its Brussels headquarters to provide "an explanation for the recent, unacceptable comments of President Duterte."
The move highlights growing European exasperation with the president. Earlier, the EU denied his allegations that it proposed solving the Philippines' drug problem by creating treatment clinics where illegal drugs such as methamphetamine or cocaine would be dispensed.
The EU Delegation to the Philippines issued a statement saying it has not "suggested, discussed, proposed or considered the use of any substitution drugs when treating addiction to methamphetamine ... or any other drug addiction in the Philippines." It did not mention Duterte by name.
Duterte, who has lashed out at the EU repeatedly for raising human rights concerns over his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs, said in a speech Friday the EU had proposed a "health-based solution" to the drug problem that involved dispensing methampetamine, locally known as shabu, cocaine or heroin.
He branded the supposed EU proposal a "government-sponsored idiotic exercise."
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/03/28/1685390/eu-summons-filipino-envoy-explain-duterte-tiradeThis guy was the original Trump, I just didn't see it because I was looking at the actual Trump. Instead of tweeting, Duerte actually says the crazy shit out loud, at the podium, in front of everyone.
But seriously, he is walking a very fine line. His actions are clearly illegal, but his statements are going to be his downfall. He's too boastful about the killings, too callous in the application. He knows regular folks are getting caught up in this. He's not really solving the problem, just treating the symptoms.
But I see sentiment is shifting enough (he seemed to have a following similar to Trump, devoted fans that can perceive no wrong). Parliament is making moves seemingly to hold him accountable. But, it seems pretty corrupt over there politically, it will be easy for him to hinder the effort in that political climate.