Skip to content

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

'I apologize profoundly' - Philippine President releases worldwide apology

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
'I apologize profoundly and deeply to the Jewish community.'

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made a worldwide statement Sunday morning to the entire Jewish community.

Highlights

By Kenya Sinclair (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
10/2/2016 (7 years ago)

Published in Asia Pacific

Keywords: Rodrigo Duterte, Philippines, Jews, apology, Hitler

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - After comparing the Philippines' anti-drug war to Hitler and the Holocaust.

"If Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have [me]," Durterte stated. "Hitler massacred 3 million Jews...there's 3 million drug addicts. There are. I'd be happy to slaughter them."


The President continued, explaining how fighting the drug addicts would help "save the next generation from perdition."

The world responded with outrage, particularly because the comparison was not as kosher as most preferred.

World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder released a statement following Duterte's speech, calling it "revolting" and saying: "Drug abuse is a serious issue. But what President Duterte said is not only profoundly inhumane, but it demonstrates an appalling disrespect for human life that is truly heartbreaking for the democratically elected leader of a great country."

He then demanded an apology from the Philippine president.


U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner also released a statement concerning Duterte's comparison, calling it "troubling."

He explained: "Words matter, especially when they are from leaders of sovereign nations, especially sovereign nations with whom we have long and valued relations with."

The president's war on drugs has shown the most progress than any other country but he admitted his statement was uncalled for.

Though his war on drugs is seeing results, his mention of the slaughtered Jewish community was in poor taste.

Recognizing his error, Duterte delivered a speech in Bacolod to explain his intentions were never "to derogate the memory of the 6 million Jews murdered by the Germans. I apologize profoundly and deeply to the Jewish community."

He explained the drug addicts and sellers are "all criminals," while Hitler's victims were not but that his previous statement was in poor taste.

Duterte's spokesman later stated the president has rejected the Hitler label as well as the statement he released, saying it was an "oblique deflection" of comparing himself to the mass murderer.

---


'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'


Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Lent logo
Saint of the Day logo
Light Your Free Payer Candle for a departed loved one

What is Palm Sunday?

Live on March 20, 2024 @ 10am PDT

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.