Philippino Presidential Frontrunner Jokes About Pledges To Pardon Human Rights Abusers Including Himself

If you thought Donald Trump was raising eyebrows in a presidential election with his support for torture and killing the families of terrorists, he appears perfectly moderate in comparison to Philippine presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte likes to comment on his genitals and recently attracted international criticism for a disgusting joke about his desire to rape a female minister who was savagely killed in 1989. Now he is being quoted as saying that he would pardon himself for mass murder if elected and hand out thousands of pardons to government officials accused of such crimes.

Previously, the Davao City Mayor and Philippine presidential candidate Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte referenced 36-year-old Australian lay minister Jacqueline Hamill, who was held hostage, raped, had her throat slashed and was shot in 1989. He told a crowd “I was angry because she was raped, that’s one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste.” It was a tasteless and shocking joke that left most of us dumbfounded that anyone would think such a statement would be even funny. Yet, Détente appears to think that raping a minister before her throat was slit to be enormously funny.

Now, in comments to the Makati Business Club, where he referred to his previously admission of running vigilante death squads that killed over 1,700 people. He promised to pardon soldiers and policemen accused of human rights abuses, pledging “I will issue 1,000 pardons a day.” He then added himself: “Pardon given to Rodrigo Duterte for the crime of multiple murder, signed Rodrigo Duterte.”

What is truly chilling is that this authoritarian figure is actually a lawyer who relishes his nickname “the Punisher” for his extrajudicial actions and punitive measures.

Source: Time