MANILA, Philippines – Rodrigo Duterte, the foul-mouthed Philippine president who once called the pope a “son of a bitch” and told Barack Obama to “go to hell,” says he has promised to God he won’t spew expletives again.
READ MORE: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte tells Obama to ‘go to hell’ in new tirade
Duterte’s foul mouth has become a trademark of his political persona as he peppered his speeches with profanities, especially when threatening to kill drugs dealers as part of his war on illegal drugs that has left thousands dead since he took office at the end of June.
Duterte made the stunning pledge on arrival in in his southern hometown of Davao city late Thursday from a trip to Japan.
READ MORE: Rodrigo Duterte apologizes for Hitler comments
He said that while flying home, he was looking at the sky while everyone was sound asleep and he heard a voice that said “‘if you don’t stop epithets, I will bring this plane down now.’
“And I said, ‘Who is this?’ So, of course, ‘it’s God,'” he said.
“So, I promise God to … not express slang, cuss words and everything. So you guys hear me right always because (a) promise to God is a promise to the Filipino people.”
Duterte’s vow was met with applause, but he cautioned: “Don’t clap too much or else this may get derailed.”
- Iran fires air defences at military base after suspected Israeli drone attack
- U.S. aid to Ukraine, Israel set to pass. But bills differ in one key area
- Carbon rebate labelling in bank deposits fuelling confusion, minister says
- Conservatives ask interference inquiry judge to rule elections were flawed
Comments