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Duterte says God told him to stop cursing

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.” Mr Duterte added: “And I said, ‘Who is this?’ So, of course, ‘it’s God’”.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: AP

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: AP

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MANILA — The foul-mouthed Philippine president, who once called the pope a “son of a b****” and told US president Barack Obama to “go to hell,” says he has promised to God he will not spew expletives again.

President Rodrigo 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.

Mr Duterte made the stunning pledge on arrival in his southern hometown of Davao city late Thursday (Oct 27) from a trip to Japan.

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.”

Mr Duterte’s vow was met with applause, but he cautioned: “Don’t clap too much or else this may get derailed.” AP

 

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