Trump endorses murdering drug users - Duterte

  • 04/12/2016
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte (Reuters)
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte (Reuters)

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte claims US President-elect Donald Trump supports the extrajudicial killings of drug dealers and addicts.

Mr Duterte told reporters he had spoken to Mr Trump on the phone, and passed along his version of the conversation.

"He was quite sensitive to our war on drugs and he wishes me well in my campaign and said that we are doing, as he so put it, 'the right way'," Mr Duterte said, CNN reported.

"He was wishing me success in my campaign against the drug problem. He understood the way we are handling it and he said there is nothing wrong with protecting your country.

"It was very encouraging in the sense that I suppose that what he wanted to say was that he would be the last to interfere in the affairs of our own country."

The Philippines has come under criticism for its conduct in its war on drugs, which has escalated into the government executions of drug dealers and support for the public's murder of drug addicts.

Over 2000 people have been killed in the crackdown, and Mr Duterte has summoned the image of the Holocaust to defend his actions.

"Hitler massacred 3 million Jews. Now, there are 3 million drug addicts," he said in September. "I'd be happy to slaughter them."

Mr Trump's transition team has remained silent on Mr Duterte's comments.

"Duterte offered his congratulatory wishes to President-elect Trump. In their conversation, they noted the long history of friendship and cooperation between the two nations, and agreed that the two governments would continue to work together closely on matters of shared interest and concern," they said.

Newshub.