2016-08-21 15:49:00

Philippines president threatens to withdraw from UN


(Vatican Radio)  The Philippines' president has threatened to pull his country out of the United Nations after U.N. officials expressed alarm at apparent killings by police and vigilantes. There's concern, too, from Catholic bishops in the Philippines.

Listen to the report by Alastair Wanklyn:

Deadly shootings have soared, with police and alleged vigilantes targeting apparent drug dealers.

The president has said he approves of executing wrongdoers, saying  "If you destroy the youth of this country, I will kill you."

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's apparent incitement to killing may be a crime under international law, according to the United Nations rapporteur on summary executions. 

The U.N. said last week more than 850 people have been killed since Duterte won election in May.

On Sunday, Duterte struck back, accusing the U.N. of empty talk on halting hunger, wars and terrorism. 

He said he might as well pull the Philippines out of the U.N. and ask China and other nations to set up a parallel body.Duterte claims a mandate for his war on drugs and corruption, as that is what he promised when running for office.

But there is criticism from within the country, including from Philippine bishops. They have endorsed plans by a lawmaker to investigate the apparent extrajudicial killings, saying murder denies the victim of a chance to reform.

And after Duterte called to reinstate the death penalty, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines this week released a book it hopes will sway the debate against executions. It said it will send copies of the book to lawmakers and to the president's office.

For Vatican Radio, Alastair Wanklyn reporting.








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.