Esperon advised Duterte to stop verbal attacks against UN Rights Commissioner
By Roel Tibay
Published Apr 27, 2018 08:19 pm
By Genalyn Kabiling
To avoid derailing a military aid coming from Jordan, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. has advised President Duterte to "suffer in humiliation and shut up" about United Nations human rights chief Prince of Jordan Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein who questioned his mental health.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon
(Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN) The President revealed that Esperon advised him to restrain his anger since Jordan was about to give the Philippines two military helicopters which the country cannot afford. "You know, when the highest, the high commissioner of the Human Rights said about me needing a psychiatrist, I wanted to criticize the gray matter between his ears. But General Esperon, my security, National Security Adviser said, 'Just keep calm.' 'Why? Why should I allow this?' Sabi niya, 'No, because the King of Jordan is very kind to us.' 'Yes, I know. We're friends. We have the best of relations.' That's why, he said,” Duterte said during a public engagement in Davao City last Thursday. "He promised us two cobra helicopters We can never buy one even but he's going to give us two. So you just suffer in humiliation and shut up,” Duterte said, recalling Esperon's advice. Zeid earlier said the President needed to get a psychiatric evaluation following his verbal attacks against some UN officials critical of his brutal drug war. He said it was disgraceful that the President would use the "foulest of language" after the government accused a UN rapporteur of alleged connections with communist terrorists. The President, however, called Zeid "empty-headed," admitting he wanted to seek revenge despite the advice to refrain from commenting on the UN official's remarks. “Look, you have a big head but it’s empty. There is no grey matter between your ears. It’s hollow. It’s empty. It cannot even sustain a nutrient for your hair to grow' kasi ubos naman ‘yang buhok niya dito ," he said during his visit to Oriental Mindoro early this month.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon(Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN) The President revealed that Esperon advised him to restrain his anger since Jordan was about to give the Philippines two military helicopters which the country cannot afford. "You know, when the highest, the high commissioner of the Human Rights said about me needing a psychiatrist, I wanted to criticize the gray matter between his ears. But General Esperon, my security, National Security Adviser said, 'Just keep calm.' 'Why? Why should I allow this?' Sabi niya, 'No, because the King of Jordan is very kind to us.' 'Yes, I know. We're friends. We have the best of relations.' That's why, he said,” Duterte said during a public engagement in Davao City last Thursday. "He promised us two cobra helicopters We can never buy one even but he's going to give us two. So you just suffer in humiliation and shut up,” Duterte said, recalling Esperon's advice. Zeid earlier said the President needed to get a psychiatric evaluation following his verbal attacks against some UN officials critical of his brutal drug war. He said it was disgraceful that the President would use the "foulest of language" after the government accused a UN rapporteur of alleged connections with communist terrorists. The President, however, called Zeid "empty-headed," admitting he wanted to seek revenge despite the advice to refrain from commenting on the UN official's remarks. “Look, you have a big head but it’s empty. There is no grey matter between your ears. It’s hollow. It’s empty. It cannot even sustain a nutrient for your hair to grow' kasi ubos naman ‘yang buhok niya dito ," he said during his visit to Oriental Mindoro early this month.