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This Country's President Gladly Compares Himself to Adolph Hitler

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte compared himself to Adolph Hitler Friday, ratcheting up his violent rhetoric against drug dealers and users and defying international criticism of his country's bloody war on drugs.

Speaking in his hometown in southern Davao city, he said that he has been "portrayed or pictured to be a cousin of Hitler" and then announced "Hitler massacred 3 million Jews...there's 3 million drug addicts. There are, I'd be happy to slaughter them."

Historians say Nazis working under Hitler killed 6 million Jews before and during WWII. Duterte was referring to a Philippine government estimate of the number of drug addicts in the country.

Duterte asserted that his targets are "all criminals" and that killing them would "finish the (drug) problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition."

Duterte took office June 30 after an overwhelming victory in May's presidential election. During his campaign he promised to end illegal drugs, corruption and crime.

Since the vote, Duterte has begun a crackdown that has killed more than 3,000 suspected drug dealers and users. Seven hundred thousand others have surrendered.

Duterte's supporters and many Filipinos frustrated with growing crime have welcomed his tough approach but international criticism is deepening.

Today, governments and human rights watch groups have been quick to condemn Duterte's comments. Germany's government called them unacceptable and called in the Philippine ambassador to the Foreign Ministry over the matter.

Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, called them "revolting" and demanded a retraction and an apology.

Phil Robertson, Asia deputy director for Human Rights Watch, said it was baffling why anyone would want to compare themselves to "one of the largest mass murderers in human history."

Amnesty International urged governments around the world to condemn Duterte's "extremely dangerous outburst."

The United States has not yet responded to his comments Friday but its criticism over his government's widespread killings and human rights violations in recent months have increased tensions between the two longtime allies.

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About The Author

Heather
Sells

Heather Sells covers wide-ranging stories for CBN News that include religious liberty, ministry trends, immigration, and education. She’s known for telling personal stories that capture the issues of the day, from the border sheriff who rescues migrants in the desert to the parents struggling with a child that identifies as transgender. In the last year, she has reported on immigration at the Texas border, from Washington, D.C., in advance of the Dobbs abortion case, at crisis pregnancy centers in Massachusetts, and on sexual abuse reform at the annual Southern Baptist meeting in Anaheim