Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he personally killed suspected criminals when he was mayor of a southern city to set an example for police.

Duterte made the comments in a speech late on Monday night to businessmen as he discussed his campaign to eradicate illegal drugs, that has seen police and unknown assailants kill thousands of people since he became president on June 30.

After speaking about police killing suspects during the current crime war, Duterte said he led similar efforts when he was mayor of Davao, the major southern city that he ruled for most of the previous 20 years.

"In Davao I used to do it personally. Just to show to the guys (police) that if I can do it why can't you," Duterte said in his speech at the presidential palace.

"And I'd go around in Davao with a motorcycle, with a big bike around, and I would just patrol the streets, looking for trouble also. I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill

Duterte also responded to criticism from human rights groups and US President Barack Obama about his brutal anti-crime tactics, vowing to continue his crackdown.

"If they say that I am afraid to stop (the campaign) because of the human rights and guys from including Obama: Sorry, I am not about to do that," he said in English.

Rights groups have previously accused Duterte of running vigilante death squads in Davao that killed more than 1,000 suspected criminals.

Duterte has variously denied and acknowledged his involvement in the death squads.

Similarly, Duterte as president has called on ordinary Filipinos as well as security forces to kill drug users and traffickers. But he has also said that he and his security forces would not break the law.

In October, Duterte compared himself to Adolf Hitler and said he would be "happy to slaughter" three million drug addicts.

He later apologised for the Hitler reference but said he was "emphatic" about wanting to kill the millions of addicts.

Since his election, police have reported killing 2,086 people in anti-drug operations. More than 3,000 others have been killed in unexplained circumstances, according to official figures.

Often masked assailants break into shanty homes and kill people who have been tagged as drug traffickers or drug users.
Rights groups have warned of a breakdown in the rule of law with police and hired assassins operating with complete impunity.

Duterte has insisted that police are only killing in self-defence and gangsters are murdering the other victims.

But he has also said he will not allow any police to go to jail if they are found guilty of murder in prosecuting his crime war.

'Either take rehab meds or hang yourselves'

On Tuesday, President Duterte announced that he released P2 billion (Dh145m) to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Half of that amount — P1 billion — had been earmarked to fund rehabilitation medicines of drug users enlisted in the government’s rehabilitation program.

“I advise the drug users to just stay home and I will order the medical workers around the country to go around the areas [to distribute the medicines],” said Duterte before delivering his departure speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

Duterte left Tuesday afternoon for his state visit to Cambodia and Singapore in preparation for the Philippines’ Asean chairmanship next year.

He said the money would be used for tranquilizers and other medicines, including for antidepressants “that will keep you calm and would restore your sanity.” “I hope that P1 billion would go a long way to treat you this Christmas.”

Following the announcement, Duterte also sternly warned drug addicts to confine themselves at home and wait for the medical assistance or else they will be picked up from the streets by authorities.

“If I see you out on the streets, I will really arrest you. You stay home and wait for in about one or two days because I already released P1 billion, which you shall use for your medications,” he said.

As for the drug users suffering from mental illness due to substance abuse and whose health could no longer be restored, Duterte only had harsh words: “Nagpadala rin ako ng mga lubid. Magbigti na lang kayo mga p*****ina ninyo.” (I sent ropes, too. Just hang yourselves, your mothers are ****.

source : gulfnews