Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum slams Duterte’s Hitler remarks

MANILA, Philippines – Comments made by Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte comparing himself to Adolf Hitler have drawn widespread condemnation, including Manny Pacquiao’s longtime boxing promoter Bob Arum. 

Arum, the 84-year-old chief executive officer of Top Rank, blasted the remarks by Duterte, in which he compared his deadly war on crime to Hitler’s efforts to exterminate Jews during the World War II. 

“President Duterte has shamed the Filipino nation with his comments comparing himself to Hitler. Reprehensible,” he wrote on his official Twitter account.

President Duterte has shamed the Filipino nation with his comments comparing himself to Hitler. Reprehensible.

— Bob Arum (@BobArum) September 30, 2016

Arum’s strong response to Duterte’s Hitler comparison came as no surprise. Although Arum was born and raised in New York, he has an Orthodox Jewish background. 

Duterte made the comment on Friday, September 30, in his arrival speech in Davao City, where he landed after a two-day official visit to Vietnam. 

“Hitler massacred 3 million Jews. Now there are 3 million drug addicts [in the Philippines]. I’d be happy to slaughter them,” Duterte told reporters. 

“At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have…” he said, then paused momentarily and continued, “But you know, my victims, I would like to be (sic) all criminals to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition.”

More than 3,000 alleged drug users and dealers have been killed since July 1 – either in vigilante-style killings or summary executions, or police operations. 

Meanwhile, Arum’s prized boxer Pacquiao extended his support to Duterte’s campaign against drugs. – Rappler.com