WorldMANILA, AFP -President Rodrigo Duterte has said his threat to pull the Philippines out of the United Nations for criticising his deadly crime war was just a “joke”, while attempting a light-hearted wordplay on genocide. “Can't you take a joke,” Duterte told reporters on Tuesday when asked if he was serious. Nearly 2,000 people have been killed since Duterte was sworn into office on June 30 and immediately launched his war on crime, according to the national police chief. Duterte smiled and said: “You reporters say that and then we will be the ones accused of saying that. You added something there.” Duterte and his aides have previously cautioned reporters not to take everything the president says at face value.

Source: Sunday Times August 24, 2016 06:33 UTC