Philippines’ Duterte apologises to Jews over Hitler remark but says he still wants to kill millions of drug addicts

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday apologised to Jews for comparing himself with Adolf Hitler but said he did nothing wrong and reiterated his desire to kill millions of drug addicts.

Duterte, whose bloody war on crime had already drawn international condemnation, sparked fresh outrage on Friday when he likened his deadly crime war with Hitler’s efforts to exterminate Jews.

Duterte said he was merely reacting to critics who drew comparisons between him and the Nazi leader.

“So I said, ‘sure I am Hitler, but the ones I will kill are these [drug addicts]’,” Duterte said in a speech broadcast on national television.

“But it is not really that I said something wrong. But rather they do not really want to tinker with the memory so I apologise profoundly and deeply to the Jewish [people].