puricarexfiles: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visited a synagogue in the Manila metropolis Tuesday to personally apologize to the Jewish community for making a "terribly wrong" comparison between his anti-drug campaign and Hitler and the Holocaust in a recent speech.

Duterte visits synagogue to apologize for Hitler remark

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, 3rd from left, link arms with Israeli Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau, 2nd from left, and members of the Jewish Association of the Philippines, during a meeting at the Beit Yaacov Synagogue, The Jewish Association of the Philippines in Makati, south of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. Duterte has apologized to Jews worldwide after his remarks drawing comparisons between his bloody anti-drug war and Hitler and the Holocaust sparked shock and outrage.

By: Aaron Favila The Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visited a synagogue in the Manila metropolis Tuesday to personally apologize to the Jewish community for making a "terribly wrong" comparison between his anti-drug campaign and Hitler and the Holocaust in a recent speech.

Duterte had apologized to the Jewish world in a speech Sunday but he visited the Beit Yaacov synagogue in Makati city to press his expression of regret and assure that he was not racist, adding that his wife, now separated from him, has Jewish ties.

"I would like to apologize and it comes from the heart," Duterte told members of the Jewish Association of the Philippines.

Deriding critics who had compared him to Hitler, Duterte acknowledged he erred in referencing what happened to Jewish people under the Nazi leader.

"I mentioned the word Jewish and that was what was terribly wrong and for that I apologize," Duterte said, drawing an applause. "But I'm not one of the racist members of this republic."

In his original remarks on Friday, Duterte raised the rhetoric over his anti-drug campaign to a new level by comparing it to Hitler and the Holocaust and saying he would be "happy to slaughter" an estimated 3 million Filipino addicts.

In that speech, the brash president said without elaborating that he has been "portrayed or pictured to be a cousin of Hitler" by his critics.

Moments later, he said, "Hitler massacred 3 million Jews ... there's 3 million drug addicts. There are. I'd be happy to slaughter them."

His remarks drew shock and outrage across the world. In his apology Monday, he said he had never intended to derogate the memory of the 6 million Jews murdered under Hitler before and during World War II.

Duterte recalled his modest political roots in his speech at the synagogue and what he said was his sincere desire to rid his country of corruption and crime, especially illegal drugs. He sought understanding for his tough image.

"You know it's my character ... I am I and you are you," he said. "God created me to be in this way."

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A historic visit of the Philippine President to the Jewish Synagogue carries the blessings of the New Year’s holiday which symbolizes soul search, forgiveness and atonement…

President Rodrigo Duterte decided to come to the Synagogue of the Jewish community in Manila to apologize personally to the Jewish world on statements made connecting the Jewish Holocaust and his war on drugs.

The President made it clear what was already clear and known that he did not mean disrespect to the Jewish people. Referring to his personal life, his wife Elizabeth Zimmerman is actually a daughter of a Jewish father who found the Philippines as a shelter and home. He expressed his respect and affinity to the Jewish people and Israel, paying homage to Prime Minister Netanyahu and his desire to strengthen ties with Israel.

On the other end, the Ambassador made it clear that the President’s words speak for themselves and they are genuine coming from his heart.

We believe that any reference to Nazi Germany that is not in the context of the most evil empire is not going to achieve anything and will be counterproductive.

The Nazi empire murdered endless millions of people not for their wrongdoings but rather for being different race or religion.

The Jewish people were the ultimate target with an attempt to annihilate us to the last living soul only for the sole reason of hate coupled with racial supremacy and megalomania. Israel in the Philippines