"Please accept my apology. It will never happen again," said President Rodrigo Duterte to a gathering of Jews, prompting applause and even a standing ovation.
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.
Duterte said his controversial remarks comparing his drug war to Adolf Hitler's extermination of the Jews was "not intended" and was just "a play of the tongue."
Duterte had already given a public apology last October 2 after the remark raised an international outrage.
The President said the Jews have never heard a word of insult from him before. He even admitted that he is connected to their people through his former wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, who is a descendant of an American Jew.
The President, known for his extemporaneous speeches, admitted he had junked the prepared speech given to him for the Jewish event.
"I'm sorry, that's why I did not read my speech because it does not show my emotion…It cannot transmit the emotions which I would like to give to you," said Duterte to laughter from his audience.
It was ffollowed by harder laughs when he said he would only buy defense equipment from Israel, where many in the audience hail from, instead of the United States.
With a hint of admiration, he even likened himself to longtime Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is known to have strained ties with Obama.
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."
Source: Fox News
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