Duterte tells critics of crime crackdown to ‘go to hell’ as approval ratings soar

Outspoken president Rodrigo Duterte has told critics of his violent clampdown on drug dealers and addicts to go to hell. The populist Philippine leader shrugged off complaints over his crackdown which has seen 3,000 people killed as he launched a scheme to give rewards of up to $5,100 each for “best performing” police officers. He said: “I would like to just give an advice to all the human rights (critics) shouting now, local or international, I said you can all go to hell for it is never wrong for a president and the police and the military to protect its citizens.” Mr Duterte also attacked the European Union, saying it “better choose purgatory, hell is filled up”.

There is no crime at all when I say do not destroy the youth of this land because I will kill you

Rodrigo Duterte

Mr Duterte was elected in June with nearly 40% of the vote. Despite the worldwide codemnation of his crime crackdown, his approach is proving popular at home. A new poll released on Thursday showed 76% of Filipinos were satisfied with Mr Duterte’s performance. Just 11 percent of people surveyed said they were “dissatisfied” and the rest were undecided, , according to the poll by Social Weather Stations. However, in Thursday’s speech he did backtrack for comparing himself to Hitler when he said he would happily slaughter drug addicts.

I mentioned the word Jewish and that was what was terribly wrong. But I’m not one of the racist members of this republic.

Mr Duterte

Asia-Pacific