Malacañang: Rodrigo Duterte compared himself to Adolf Hitler, not Ninoy Aquino
Malacañang noted that Rodrigo Duterte had compared himself to fascist leader Adolf Hitler after his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, likened him to assassinated democracy figure Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.
“We never heard former President Duterte compare himself to Ninoy, but rather to Hitler,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing on March 24.
“He even said, and I quote, ‘Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there are three million drug addicts. I’d be happy to slaughter them. If Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have me.'"
Castro noted that it's "very far-fetched" to compare Duterte to Aquino, as the latter had no record of mass murder or crimes against humanity, referring to the former's charges before the International Criminal Court. Duterte has been detained in The Hague in the Netherlands since March 12.
The official responded to Sara's recent remarks after she was asked by supporters about bringing her father back to the Philippines. Duterte is running as Davao City mayor in the midterm elections in May and wishes to hold a campaign.
“Sinabi ko din sa kanya ‘yon, ‘Pa, ‘yung kagustuhan mo na umuwi, iyan din ‘yung katapusan ng buhay mo. Magiging Ninoy Aquino Jr. ka,’” the VP said. “At sinabi niya sa akin, sabi niya, ‘Kung ganyan ang kapalaran ko, then so be it. Basta lang mauwi ako sa Pilipinas.'"
The Ninoy & Cory Aquino Foundation, meanwhile, was at odds with Sara's comparison.
In a short statement on Facebook, the foundation said that the country's history shows otherwise.
"Kung pag-aaralan natin ang kasaysayan, makikita natin na ibang-iba ang ginawa kay Ninoy sa pinagdadaanan ngayon ni dating Pang. Duterte," it said.
On Aug. 21, 1983, Aquino, a former senator who returned to the Philippines after a three-year self-imposed exile in the United States, was shot at the defunct Manila International Airport, which would be renamed after him.
He was the long-time political rival of Ferdinand E. Marcos, the father and namesake of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who had a falling out with Sara.
Aquino's assassination eventually sparked the EDSA People Power Revolution, a series of bloodless demonstrations from Feb. 22 to 25, 1986, which toppled the 20-year dictatorship of Marcos Sr.
Aquino's widow, Cory Aquino, then took over as president.
Duterte's arrest
Duterte was arrested on March 11 following a warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court via the International Criminal Police Organization.
He has been accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder pursuant to Article 7 (1)(a) of the Roman Statute."
Specifically, he was allegedly involved in the murder of at least 19 persons reported to be drug pushers or thieves who were killed by members of the Davao Death Squad in various locations in or around Davao City between 2011 and 2016, as well as the murder of at least 24 alleged criminals who were killed by or under the supervision of members of the Philippines law enforcement at various locations in the country between 2016 and 2019 during his term as president.
The ICC is acting based on the principle of complementarity, which means that it's only stepping in if a state's courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute crimes within their jurisdiction.
Though Duterte withdrew the country's membership from the ICC in 2018, which took effect the following year, the ICC said it still has jurisdiction over crimes that happened while the Philippines was still a member-state.
Duterte arrived in The Hague on March 12 to face the charges against him.
He could be the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
His pre-trial hearing is on Sept. 23, 2025.
If the charges against him are confirmed, it could be months before the case eventually goes on trial, and years before a final judgment is rendered.
