Philippines' president Rodrigo Duterte admits personally killing criminal suspects

The president of the Philippines has admitted he has killed criminal suspects personally to show the police how it's done.

Rodrigo Duterte said he used to cruise the streets of the southern city of Davao on a motorbike "looking for trouble".

Mr Duterte was mayor of the southern city for two decades and led a crackdown on crime. He said he killed suspects himself to demonstrate the approach to police.

“Killings used to happen in police encounters. And I know it, because in Davao I used to do it personally. Just to show to the guys [police officers] that if I can do it, why can’t you.”

The president has gained a reputation for being tough on crime since being elected in May and has caused controversy with his war on drug addicts.

In July, 60,000 Filipino drug addicts surrendered themselves to the government after the President urged citizens to "go ahead and kill" drug dealers and users.

Despite the mass surrender, 6,000 drug addicts have been killed in police operations and vigilante-style killings in five months.

Mr Duterte has no regrets about his policy and dismissed accusations of human rights violations in his speech at the presidential palace.

He said: "If they say that I am afraid to stop because of the human rights and guys … including Obama, sorry, I am not about to do that,”