Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte’s comparison of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s fate to that of slain Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. has been sharply denounced by the Malacañang Palace who said likening the two would be too far-fetched. 

In fact, Duterte back then likened himself to a far darker political figure, German dictator Adolf Hitler. 

“We never heard former President Duterte compare himself to Ninoy, but rather to Hitler,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing Monday.

She even quoted the former president’s words in 2016 who said he’d be “happy to slaughter” about 3 million drug addicts in the Philippines. 

In that rambling speech in Davao City in 2016, Duterte expressly said, “If Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have…” then paused and pointed to himself. 

In the vice president’s speech before supporters at The Hague, Netherlands over the weekend, the younger Duterte mentioned having warned her father that returning to the Philippines might just be the end for him. This came after the former president expressed desire to go back to the country to push his re-election as mayor of Davao City. 

“Your desire to go home, that would be the end of your life. You will become Ninoy Aquino Jr.,” the vice president said. 

“He told me, ‘If that is my fate, so be it, as long as I’m back in the Philippines,’” she said, quoting the embattled former state chief. 

Castro denounced this saying there is not any threat to the life of the former president and that if any, their camp, despite making such claims, have not produced any supporting evidence. 

“Where is this story coming from? Where is this Ninoy Aquino comparison coming from? Where are these so-called threats?” Castro asked. 

“Up to now, these alleged threats have not been reported to the NBI or PNP. Before making such statements, there should be materials and evidence. There is no truth to this.”

Duterte is detained at the ICC Detention Centre at The Hague, Netherlands facing trial for alleged crimes against humanity.