Philippines president Duterte: I threw a man from a helicopter

The president of the Philippines has claimed that he once threw a man out of a helicopter and that he would do it again. Rodrigo Duterte said he hurled a Chinese man suspected of rape and murder out mid-air. Mr Duterte’s spokesman described the alleged incident as an “urban legend”.

If you are corrupt, I will fetch you using a helicopter to Manila and I will throw you out. I have done this before, why would I not do it again?

Rodrigo Duterte

The latest controversy comes just weeks after Mr Duterte admitted killing people during the 22 years he spent as mayor of Davao City, in the south of the country. He claimed to have toured the city’s streets on his motorcycle looking for drug dealers to shoot. His comments sparked international condemnation and created tensions with the United States and United Nations. Since his election in May, more than 6,100 people have been killed in Mr Duterte’s war on drugs.

Asia-Pacific