WorldMANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday defended his bloody war on drugs, telling Southeast Asian lawyers he had been “demonized” and denying allegations of state-sponsored killings of drug dealers and users. Duterte’s crackdown has caused international alarm, and domestic polls have shown growing scepticism about the 16-month old campaign that has killed thousands of mostly urban, poor Filipinos. “I know that I have been demonized,” Duterte said, invoking God and his oath as a lawyer as he offered his assurance. He used United Nations pamphlets to describe how different types of illegal drugs, including the highly addictive methamphetamine, or “shabu”, could trigger aggressive behavior among users. They always fight it out.”During his 22 years as mayor of the southern city of Davao, Duterte estimated 600 drug suspects had been killed in police encounters.

Source: Sunday Times October 25, 2017 12:22 UTC