‘We won’t beg for it’: Philippines’ Duterte dares US, EU to withdraw aid
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday dared critics of his anti-drugs campaign – which include the United States and the European Union – to withdraw their aid from the Southeast Asian country.
“Go away. Bring your money to somewhere else. We will survive as a nation,” Duterte said in an address to policemen in the southern island of Mindanao, where he again justified his tough measures to stamp out the drug menace, calling it part of his country’s fight “for self-preservation”.
“I do not expect [US President Barack] Obama, I do not expect the EU to understand me. Do not understand me. And if you think it is high time for you guys to withdraw your assistance, go ahead. We will not beg for it,” the president said, stressing that the Philippines is not subservient to Western countries.
If you [US, EU] think it is high time for you guys to withdraw your assistance, go ahead. We will not beg for it
“Even if it gets difficult here, we will survive. I’ll be the first one to go hungry and I’ll be the first one to die of hunger,” he said, adding he will not compromise the dignity of the Filipinos.
According to the Philippines’ National Economic and Development Authority, the United States provided some US$1.15 billion in official development assistance to the Philippines in 2014, US$875.33 million in 2013 and US$852.18 million in 2012.