Duterte: I can defend 'kill suspects' order even before Christ

MANILA, Philippines —President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday doubled down on his past statements threatening to kill people who he said compromise the nation's future, saying he could defend his remarks even before Jesus Christ.

Duterte slammed critics who kept on criticizing his threats and emphasized that the threat was a legitimate statement coming from the leader of a nation.

“When I say that I will kill you if you destroy the young of this country, nobody can argue with that statement miski sa harap ni Hesukristo,” Duterte, who has been very sensitive to critical comments especially on his flagship war on drugs, said in a speech in the wood-paneled presidential palace.

Catholics, as a majority of Filipinos claim to be, believe that Jesus Christ will judge sinners after the Second Coming. According to the Gospel of Matthew, "then He will separate them into two groups, as a shepherd separated sheep from goats."

READ: Rody: Only stupid God will send me to hell

Duterte’s campaign to eradicate narcotics has claimed more than 12,000 lives, according to human rights groups monitoring the situation.

However, the government disputes this number, saying that only a small fraction of these killings is related to police anti-drugs raids. They say that most of these deaths, many perpetrated by hooded motorcycle-riding men, are still under investigation. The government has previously said the deaths were attributable to vigilantes, assassins and drug syndicates.

Despite the mounting number of deaths and the bloody trail, Duterte’s campaign has remained popular among many Filipinos, some of whom argue that suspected criminals do not have rights.

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'What is wrong with threats to kill?'

Criticisms of the drug war ratcheted up two weeks ago after a series of raids killed more than 80 suspected drug suspects across Bulacan and Metro Manila in a span of three days.

In his speech before newly-promoted police officers, Duterte justified his brutal war on drugs.

“Ano bang masama kapag sinabi mong papatayin kita kapag sinira mo ang bayan ko? If you destroy the next generation?” the president said.

However, the war on drugs has also claimed the lives of minors.

According to the Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center, at least 31 people aged 18 years old or below were killed during drug operations in the president’s first year in office.

The most prominent among those killed was 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos, who was gunned down by cops after allegedly offering violent resistance to arrest in a Caloocan City neighborhood.

Witnesses, however, dispute this and say that the police personnel already had the boy in their custody. CCTV footage also showed two of the three cops involved in the raid dragging a boy resembling Delos Santos.

Police have issued conflicting statements on the video, with the officers involved telling the Senate the person in the video was a police asset.

READ: 'Unlawful killings not allowed'

'License to kill'

Duterte’s statements to kill suspects have also been blasted by rights activists who claimed that these are tantamount to giving cops license to indiscriminately kill suspected criminals without the benefit of a court hearing.

In one of his speeches, he seemed to suggest the planting of evidence and guns to justify the killing of drug suspects.

“I said, O sir, if they are there, destroy them also. Especially if they put up a good fight. O ‘pag walang baril, walang – bigyan mo ng baril (If they don’t have a gun, give them a gun). Here’s a loaded gun, fight because the mayor said, let’s fight,” Duterte said in a December speech.

Duterte, on a separate occasion, told cops to make suspects fight back, apparently to provide a reason should they be killed in the operation.

“Eh ako lang naman ang harap-harap na mag-utos patayin mo yang p***** inang 'yan. Sino pa bang iba? Kung hindi ko kayang ako na mismong p***** ina patayin mo yan. Pagkatapos lumaban. Pagkatapos lumaban,” he said as his audience composed of BJMP personnel erupted in laughter.

He then said: “Dito is pagkalumaban. Ngayon, kung ayaw lumaban, di palabanin mo.”

However, in a recent speech, the president softened his orders to cops and clarified that he never ordered them shoot suspects already kneeling for their lives.

The president's spokespersons and subordinates have repeatedly had to "clarify" or walk back his statements, saying these are said in jest, are hyperbole, or are expressions of frustration.

READ: Palace: Use 'creative imagination' to interpret Duterte remarks