By ARGYLL GEDUCOS
JERUSALEM, Israel – ’Never again.’
President Duterte expressed hope that a genocide like the Holocaust will not happen again as he assured that the Philippines will be one of the first countries to reject a genocide.
Duterte made the statement during his historic visit to the Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial for victims of the Holocaust, in Jerusalem Monday afternoon.
In his signed dedication in the guest book at the memorial site’s Children’s Hall, Duterte said he is hoping that people’s heart will remain open.
“Never again,” said Duterte. “May the world learn the lessons of this horrific and benighted period of human history. May the hearts of peoples around the world remain ever open.”
“And may the minds of all men and women learn to work together towards providing a safe haven for all who are being persecuted.”
Duterte, in his visit to Yad Vashem’s Hall of Names with daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, called Hitler insane and expressed wonder how one country can follow such an insane leader.
“Me, I realized that war is insanity. And what happened here, in Europe especially under the Nazi,” he said.
“I could not imagine of a country obey an insane leader. And I could not ever fathom the spectacle of a human being going into a killing spree, murdering old men, women, men, children, mother,” he added.
Duterte said he is hoping that a tragedy like the Holocaust will not happen again and suggested that leaders who show signs of insanity should be disposed of immediately.
“I hope that this will not happen again. But we are a world whose – now… We have learned so much along the years during the two wars. There is always a lesson to be learned and that despots and leaders who show insanity should be – well they should be disposed of at the first instance,” he said.
