MANILA, Philippines: The Philippine president unleashed an expletive-laden tirade Thursday against the country鈥檚 leading newspaper and TV network and threatened to humiliate them and their owners, whom he accused of distorting news of his anti-drug crackdown.
President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 outburst against the Philippine Daily Inquirer and ABS-CBN TV network in a nationally televised speech prompted a media watchdog group to call him a 鈥減etty tyrant, who mistakenly believes public office is an entitlement that allows you to flaunt the laws of the land.鈥�
Duterte, who has had a thorny relationship with journalists, complained that his anti-drug campaign has been portrayed as targeting the poor. He also was incensed about accounts of his alleged corruption, saying he will resign if reports of undeclared bank deposits are proven.
Calling the owners of the Inquirer and ABS-CBN 鈥渇ools,鈥� Duterte threatened to curse them and use the state-owned TV network to ridicule them 鈥渢o get even.鈥�
鈥淭here are press (people) who are sons of bitches and who know nothing but lies,鈥� he said in a speech at the oath-taking of government officials at Manila鈥檚 presidential palace.
鈥淚nquirer, you鈥檝e never been fair. I know that it鈥檚 supposed to be antagonistic but fair? You鈥檙e rude,鈥� Duterte said. 鈥淎BS-CBN is also rude, really rude.鈥�
Presidential palace staffers deleted the expletives and curses in an official transcript of the speech they sent to news agencies.
Duterte鈥檚 crackdown, which has left thousands of mostly petty drug suspects dead, has alarmed Western governments and prompted UN rights officials to consider an investigation.
Duterte, who has denied condoning extrajudicial killings but has repeatedly threatened drug suspects with death, has lashed out at the US, EU and other critics.
The 72-year-old leader, who won the presidency last year after serving as a city mayor for two decades, also fumed about news reports that speculated about the nature of his illnesses, and suggested that older people naturally develop health problems. He became visibly infuriated over a picture of him in his bedroom with an oxygen machine.
Duterte has acknowledged suffering from illnesses linked to smoking and a motorcycle accident in the past, but has refused to issue a detailed statement on his health.
Philippine Daily Inquirer Executive Editor Jose Ma. Nolasco said in a statement that it has been fair in its coverage of Duterte and his administration and has always included his side in any controversy. He said the newspaper runs a column on its opinion page in which Cabinet officials expound on government policies.
There was no immediate statement from ABS-CBN.

'Brazen abuse of power'
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said Duterte鈥檚 鈥渇oul-mouthed rant鈥� against the two major news organizations 鈥渨as absolutely twisted,鈥� adding it was the president who was rude and abusive.
鈥淚t was a brazen abuse of your immense power as chief executive of this land and only shows how little, if any, appreciation you have of democracy and governance,鈥� the group said.
It said Duterte鈥檚 curses and threats would not prevent Filipino journalists from doing their work.
The dominant Roman Catholic church, which has criticized Duterte鈥檚 drug crackdown, also came under fire from Duterte, who urged the audience to read a book about Filipino bishops and priests who were accused of sexual abuse, corruption and other wrongdoing.
鈥淵ou read it and if you鈥檙e still a Catholic the next day, you鈥檒l impress me,鈥� Duterte said.