ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
The Philippines president has laid into Western countries for their policy on refugees, accusing them in a TV interview of cherry picking human rights issues for self purpose.
In an Al Jazeera 101 East program broadcast late Friday, Rodrigo Duterte said western nations appeared to "be very accommodating on [some] human rights [issues], but suddenly change course and say no" when it comes to welcoming those fleeing conflict.
"You stay there. We will build a wall [and put up] barbed wire [between us and you]," he said of the West. "And now the hypocrite is there, staring at us eyeball to eyeball."
Duterte told the interviewer that the Philippines would accept refugees "until we are filled to the brim", adding that his decision was based on western countries' failure to help.
"They [refugees] can always come here. I will welcome them all," the president added, without elaborating on how the country of 100 million would deal with the influx.
In an Oct. 5 report, Amnesty said many of the world's wealthiest nations "host the fewest and do the least" for refugees.
It noted that the top 10 hosts for refugees at the end of 2015 were Jordan (with more than 2.7 million people), Turkey (more than 2.5 million), Pakistan (1.6 million), and Lebanon (more than 1.5 million).
Since being voted president in May, Duterte has drawn international condemnation for a crackdown on drugs.
Both the European Union and United States have accused him of violating human rights by allegedly using death squads to kill suspected drug dealers and users.
Since June 30, when Duterte took office, more than 3,680 people have been killed by police and unidentified attackers.
