'Happy' to kill: Philippine leader's views on drugs deaths

Outspoken Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces investigation by the International Criminal Court into alleged crimes during his "war on drugs", has said he would be happy to kill three million addicts.

While Duterte insists he is not responsible for any unlawful deaths, police have reported killing nearly 4,000 people in his anti-drug campaign. Many thousands of other murders remain unexplained and rights groups say the actual toll is now more than 12,000.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the European Union have all criticised the controversial leader for his bombastic statements appearing to support the killing.

Here is a selection of Duterte's comments on deaths and the drug war:

View to kill

"When I become president, I'll order the police and the military to find these people and kill them." 

As a presidential candidate Duterte said on March 16, 2016 that he would eradicate drugs in the Philippines by killing so many dealers it will cause a boom for funeral businesses.

Rough justice

"If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful."

Hours after being sworn in as Philippine president, Duterte goes to a Manila slum and urges residents to kill drug-addled neighbours on June 30, 2016.

Slaughter rules

"This campaign (of) shoot-to-kill will remain until the last day of my term. I don't care about human rights, believe me."

An unapologetic Duterte vows no let up as the death toll from his drug war nears 1,000 on August 6, 2016.

"I'd be happy to slaughter them."

Duterte estimated on September 30, 2016 that there were three million drug addicts in the Philippines, adding that he would like them all dead. A year later he said the figure had grown to four million despite his crackdown.

Leading by example?

"I used to do it (kill) personally just to show to the guys that if I can do it, so can you."

On December, 12, 2016 Duterte boasts that he had murdered suspects when he was mayor of the southern city of Davao.

"If you commit corruption, whoever you are, I will have you flown by helicopter to Manila and I will toss you out. I have done it before, why would not I do it again?"

Duterte alludes to a past crime in explaining to typhoon survivors how he will take drastic measures against drugs and graft on December 27, 2016.

Sorry? Not sorry

"You want to scare me by threatening to have me thrown in prison? International Criminal Court? Bullshit."

On November 28, 2016 Duterte bristles at ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's stark warning that any person who incites "mass violence" in the Philippines was "potentially liable to prosecution" at the world court. 

"I don't give a damn about being prosecuted in the ICC. Go ahead. It would be my pleasure to go to prison for my country. It would be a distinct honour for me, even if they don't make me a hero, to die for my country."

Duterte again shrugs off potential prosecution on September 20, 2017.