Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte: God told me to stop swearing

By Alanne Orjoux, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 1:09 PM EDT, Fri October 28, 2016
Speaking at a business forum in Manila in December 2016, Duterte admitted killing suspected criminals during his time as mayor of Davao City.
Speaking at a business forum in Manila in December 2016, Duterte admitted killing suspected criminals during his time as mayor of Davao City.
AFP/Stringer/Getty Images
The day after Trump won the US presidential election in November 2016, Duterte said he and Trump share some traits.
The day after Trump won the US presidential election in November 2016, Duterte said he and Trump share some traits.
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After reports emerged of a potentially blocked arms sale, Duterte told CNN Philippines in November 2016 that he would turn to Russia for weapons.
After reports emerged of a potentially blocked arms sale, Duterte told CNN Philippines in November 2016 that he would turn to Russia for weapons.
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During a state visit to China in October 2016, Duterte announced his economic and military 'separation' from the US.
During a state visit to China in October 2016, Duterte announced his economic and military 'separation' from the US.
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In October 2016 Duterte expressed growing hostility with the US president.
In October 2016 Duterte expressed growing hostility with the US president.
Lam Yik Fei/Stringer/Getty Images
After US president Barack Obama said he would raise extrajudicial killings in a meeting with Duterte, the Philippines President responded angrily on September 5, first in English then in Tagalog. As a result, Obama canceled the meeting.
After US president Barack Obama said he would raise extrajudicial killings in a meeting with Duterte, the Philippines President responded angrily on September 5, first in English then in Tagalog. As a result, Obama canceled the meeting.
As he addressed troops at the country's Armed Forces Central Command Headquarters on August 5, Duterte recounted U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to the country, saying in Tagalog that he was feuding with U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
As he addressed troops at the country's Armed Forces Central Command Headquarters on August 5, Duterte recounted U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to the country, saying in Tagalog that he was feuding with U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images
The Philippines president-elect effectively said he supported vigilantism against drug dealers and criminals in a nationally televised speech in June 2016.
The Philippines president-elect effectively said he supported vigilantism against drug dealers and criminals in a nationally televised speech in June 2016.
MANMAN DEJETO/AFP/Getty Images
Foreign diplomats weighing in on Rodrigo Duterte's controversial remarks did not sit well with the then-mayor.
Foreign diplomats weighing in on Rodrigo Duterte's controversial remarks did not sit well with the then-mayor.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images
Duterte apologized to the Pope after cursing him for the traffic he caused during a 2015 Papal visit to the Philippines.
Duterte apologized to the Pope after cursing him for the traffic he caused during a 2015 Papal visit to the Philippines.
Bullit Marquez/AP
In September 2016, Duterte likened himself to the Nazi leader and announced that he wants to kill millions of drug addicts.
In September 2016, Duterte likened himself to the Nazi leader and announced that he wants to kill millions of drug addicts.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images
Speaking at a press conference to unveil his new cabinet on May 31 2016, Rodrigo Duterte said journalists killed on the job in the Philippines were often corrupt.
Speaking at a press conference to unveil his new cabinet on May 31 2016, Rodrigo Duterte said journalists killed on the job in the Philippines were often corrupt.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images
During the third and last presidential debate, Duterte had said that he would plant a Philippine flag in disputed territories should China refuse to recognize a favorable ruling for the Philippines.
During the third and last presidential debate, Duterte had said that he would plant a Philippine flag in disputed territories should China refuse to recognize a favorable ruling for the Philippines.
STR/AFP/Getty Images
Duterte made international headlines in April 2016 with his inflammatory comments on the 1989 rape and murder of an Australian missionary that took place in Davao City.
Duterte made international headlines in April 2016 with his inflammatory comments on the 1989 rape and murder of an Australian missionary that took place in Davao City.
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He also lashed out at the womens' group that filed a complaint against him before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
He also lashed out at the womens' group that filed a complaint against him before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images
At a CNN Philippines Townhall event in February 2016, Duterte, admitted that he had three girlfriends and a common-law wife. His marriage to Elizabeth Zimmerman was annulled due to his womanizing, but he denied this meant he objectified women.
At a CNN Philippines Townhall event in February 2016, Duterte, admitted that he had three girlfriends and a common-law wife. His marriage to Elizabeth Zimmerman was annulled due to his womanizing, but he denied this meant he objectified women.
MANMAN DEJETO/AFP/Getty Images
Although he later denied the accusations, the former Davao City mayor admitted his links to the alleged Davao death squad in a May 2015 broadcast of his local television talk show.
Although he later denied the accusations, the former Davao City mayor admitted his links to the alleged Davao death squad in a May 2015 broadcast of his local television talk show.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Rodrigo Duterte's most controversial comments

Story highlights

Duterte has infamously called President Obama a "son of a bitch"

He's got a long history of colorful language

CNN  — 

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his – ahem – colorful language, swears he’s going to stop swearing.

The inspiration for cleaning up his vocabulary came from God himself, Duterte said, as he was flying back to the Philippines from a state visit to Japan.

“Everybody was asleep, snoring, but a voice said… ‘If you don’t stop (cursing), I will bring this plane down now.’ And I said, ‘Who is this?’ So, of course, it’s God,” the President recounted after he landed Thursday at Davao International Airport.

Duterte likens himself to Hitler

duterte in tokyo ripley lkl
duterte in tokyo ripley lkl
AFP/Getty Images
video

Related video Philippines President Duterte visits Japan

“So I promised God not to express slang, cuss words and everything,” said Duterte – who recently questioned the existence of God – adding that a “promise to God is a promise to the Filipino people.”

When those in attendance for his arrival speech began to applaud his declaration, he stopped them.

“Don’t applaud too much, I might fail,” he said.

Philippines’ Duterte on foreign troops: ‘I want them out’

Duterte’s vernacular has grabbed global headlines for its lack of, well, decorum.

Duterte
Duterte
Reuters
video

Related video Duterte tells Obama to 'go to hell'

He infamously called both President Barack Obama and Pope Francis a “son of a bitch,” declared that the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines was a “gay son of a bitch” – adding that the ambassador had “pissed him off” – and told the European Union to “f*ck off,” accompanied by the universally understood hand gesture.

After cursing Obama, Duterte expresses regret

Now the question is… how long can he keep his promise, dammit?

CNN’s Kathy Quiano and Zahra Ullah contributed to this report.