The president of the Philippines admitted Monday that he has personally killed suspects to show police officers "that if I can do it, why can't you," The New York Times reports. President Rodrigo Duterte, 71, has been making global headlines for his controversial remarks since being elected in June and has encouraged police and vigilantes to slaughter more than 5,000 people in a purported crackdown on drug dealers and users.
Duterte had claimed in 2015 that he personally killed three suspects who were accused of kidnapping and rape, although he later backtracked on those comments. The admission earlier this week is reported as his first since being elected president: "Hours earlier on Monday, Mr. Duterte spoke at an awards ceremony in Manila, where he said, 'I am not a killer,' and then threatened to kill police officers who disobeyed him," The New York Times reports.
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