PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte called Canada “stupid” for its aborted deal to sell $233 million worth of helicopters to the government, and said he would not hesitate to insult other countries that treat the Philippines “like garbage.”
“Look at how stupid the Canadians are, very stupid. They agreed to sell the helicopters. But when these were due to be delivered, they said, ‘Ah but you cannot use these for [the] military or police. This is only good for evacuation and humanitarian operations. You cannot use these against your own citizens,” the President told his audience of municipal mayors at the Manila Hotel Tuesday evening.
“My God, you Canadians how stupid can you get? Our citizens are joining the ISIS so we have every right to kill our citizens because we do not want to destroy the community with apathy,” Duterte said during the general assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.
Duterte canceled the US$233-million contract to buy 16 helicopters from Canada after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government ordered a review over human rights concerns.
The President ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to cancel the deal for 16 Bell 412EPI utility helicopters and told them to look to other countries such as Russia, South Korea or China for their choppers.
“The way you treat us, you’re treating us like a garbage. The entire community of the world should know that there is a Republic of the Philippines which you cannot just f—-ing sh-t [on],” the President said.
“Do not do it to us because I will insult you. Anyway, who are you?” the President said.
He said the government has the right to run after citizens who have joined the Islamic State terror group.
Duterte lashed out at the conditions that came with helicopter purchase, saying the government would instead shop for aircraft elsewhere.
“Idiots. We bought the helicopters and then once you complete the sale, you tell us we cannot use them,” he said in Filipino.