New Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who recently declared "a bloody war" on drug cartels, has called on willing Filipinos to "go ahead and kill" drug addicts, amid concerns that "getting their parents to do it would be too painful."
The 71-year-old president, who said during his campaign that some 100,000 criminals would die in his crackdown, their bodies dumped in Manila Bay, has been conspicuously deaf to criticism that he was promoting a culture of death"
After taking his oath inside the Malacanang presidential palace, Duterte continued his defiance and threats against drug traffickers in front of a crowd of some 500 people gathered in a Manila slum Thursday night.
"These sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, don't go into that, even if you're a policeman, because I will really kill you," the outspoken Philippines leader told the crowd, AFP reported
If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful," he added, noting that setting up funeral parlors would help earn some money.
"I assure you [that] you won't go bankrupt. If your business slows I will tell the police, 'Do it faster to help the people earn money.'"
During his speech, Duterte said that some of the major problems Philippines is facing, includes, "corruption, both in the high and low echelons in government, criminality in the streets and the rampant sale of illegal drugs in all strata of Philippines society and the breakdown of law and order."
He warned that his fight against crime would be "relentless and sustained," pledging that it will remain within the boundaries of the law.
"As a lawyer and former prosecutor, I know the limits of the power and authority of the president. I know what is legal and what is not. My adherence to due process and rule of law is uncompromising," Duterte vowed.
According to Manila Bulletin, local drug lords had they raised the bounty they had put on the president. Over $1 million has now been promised for the assassination of the new leader.
Duterte, however is not deterred as he in turn offered a reward of 5 million pesos ($108,000) for a drug lord "if he is dead," urging the public to join his far-reaching anti-crime fight.
