Philippines’ Duterte defiant over kill admission

SINGAPORE, Singapore: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte boasted again Friday he had killed criminals, as he vowed no let up in his war on drugs that has already claimed thousands of lives.

In an hour-long speech to Filipinos in Singapore, Duterte referred to international news coverage of his claims this week that in his previous role as mayor of a major southern city he killed suspects to set an example for police.

“To spare you embarrassment about the crawlers on television that have been running on CNN and even the BBC since yesterday that says Duterte admits killing or shooting the criminals: they were not mistaken,” he said.

People in the 6,500-strong crowd cheered as Duterte used his trademark strong language to promise his drug war would continue.

“Sons of whores I will really kill these idiots. My campaign on drugs will not end, until the end of my term six years from now when every drug pusher is (killed),” he said, making a throat-cutting gesture.

Duterte easily won presidential elections in May largely on a promise to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing tens of thousands of people.

More than 5,000 people have been killed since Duterte took office in late June, leading to fears of mass extrajudicial killings and a breakdown in the rule of law. — AFP