Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte raised questions after claiming that he uses marijuana to stay up amid “killing” schedules at work.
Speaking at an awards ceremony on Monday, the 73-year-old head of state reportedly made the comment in connection to a recent summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore, the Associated Press reported.
“It’s a killing activity. And I think … my age, ako, hindi masiyado, kasi nagma-marijuana ako eh para magising (me, not much, because I use marijuana to be awake),” Duterte said about such meetings, which often last from morning to late-night.
However, Duterte retracted his statement later and claimed that it was only a joke.
“Of course it was a joke. Pero (But) nobody can stop me from just doing my style. Minsan sabi ninyo misogynist ako, magbiro ako ng ganun (Sometimes you say I’m a misogynist, joking about stuff like that). That’s my style. It’s too late to change. If I want to joke, I will joke. Ngayon, kung maniwala kayo, eh g*** kayo (Now if you believe it, then you’re stupid.”
Subscribe to
NextShark's Newsletter
A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories, in under 5 minutes.
Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.
Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.
According to CNN Philippines, Duterte complained about the grueling schedules in previous meetings, such as those held in India, Thailand and Papua New Guinea.
He reportedly suggested that only “important, the most urgent, [and] the most immediate” matters should be tackled in summits, while the rest should be delegated to other working groups.
“Hindi talaga kaya, nung ako dito. I just never, I remember I just came in from nowhere, then kinabukasan umpisa na (I couldn’t take it when I was there. I just never, I remember I just came in from nowhere, then the next day it started). I think I was in India,” Duterte recalled.
“Susmaryosep, walang tulog (Jesus, Mary and Joseph, there was no sleeping). And the more the crescendo becomes faster, mas lalong hindi ka nakakatulog kasi nga hinahabaol ka ng babasahin (the more you can’t sleep because you have to catch up on readings).”
Duterte, who took office in 2016, has since become notorious for making controversial remarks. Among his previous “jokes” include the 1989 rape and murder of an Australian missionary.
“Nirape nilang lahat ng mga babae so ‘yung unang asolte, kasi nagretreat sila, naiwan yung ginawa nilang cover, ang isa doon yung lay minister na Australyana (All the women there were raped in the first assault and they retreated but the bodies the attackers used remained there, one of which was the body of an Australian lay minister). Tsk, problema na ito…Pag labas, edi binalot. Tinignan ko yung mukha, t*** i** parang si… parang artista sa Amerika na maganda (Tsk, this is a problem… The body was brought outside and it was covered. I looked at her face, son of a b****… she looked like a beautiful actress in the United States).
“P***** i**, sayang ito. Ang nagpasok sa isip ko, nirape nila, pinagpilahan nila doon. Nagalit ako kasi nirape? Oo, isa rin ‘yun . Pero napakaganda, dapat ang mayor muna ang mauna. Sayang (Son of a b****, what a waste. I was thinking that they raped her and lined up. 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).”
“P***** i**, sayang ito. Ang nagpasok sa isip ko, nirape nila, pinagpilahan nila doon. Nagalit ako kasi nirape? Oo, isa rin ‘yun . Pero napakaganda, dapat ang mayor muna ang mauna. Sayang (Son of a b****, what a waste. I was thinking that they raped her and lined up. 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).”
On top of such remarks, Duterte’s “War on Drugs,” which has claimed over 4,800 lives according to national police, has also been condemned by local and international human rights groups over possible extrajudicial executions.
Featured Images via YouTube / PTV
