My only sin is the extrajudicial killings, Philippines president Duterte tells officials

‘This is grotesque cruelty at best – and a damning indictment of his government at worst’

RODRIGO DUTERTE, the Philippines president, has admitted for the first time that extrajudicial killings have taken place during his government’s crackdown on drugs, fuelling existing demands from rights groups for an international inquiry.

Mr Duterte, who is known for his provocative, expletive-ridden statements, made his surprise confession on Thursday while speaking to government officials at the presidential palace. He said he had challenged the military to remove him if they were not satisfied with his leadership.

“I [asked] the military, what is my fault? Did I steal even one peso?” Mr Duterte said. “My only sin is the extrajudicial killings.”

The controversial president has pledged in the past to protect police officers who kill in the line of duty, but he has always denied claims that thousands of deaths during the country’s war on drugs were state-sponsored.

His most recent outburst has added credibility to investigations by human rights groups that allege small-time drugs peddlers have been targeted in an orchestrated killing spree.

According to official statistics, 4,500 people have been killed by the police during anti-drugs operations, but some estimates by rights activists claim the actual death toll is nearer 12,000.

Harry Roque, Mr Duterte’s spokesman, quickly clarified that the president was “not serious” and was only being “playful”.

Minar Pimple, senior director for global operations at Amnesty International, said: “This ‘playful’ comment is grotesque cruelty at best, and a damning indictment of his government’s murderous campaign at worst.”