The 71-year-old president, who said during
his campaign that some 100,000 criminals would die in his crackdown,
their bodies dumped in Manila Bay, has been conspicuously deaf to
criticism that he was promoting a culture of death"
After
taking his oath inside the Malacanang presidential palace, Duterte
continued his defiance and threats against drug traffickers in front of
a crowd of some 500 people gathered in a Manila slum Thursday night.
"These
sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, don't go into
that, even if you're a policeman, because I will really kill you," the outspoken Philippines leader told the crowd, AFP reported
If
you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting
their parents to do it would be too painful," he added, noting that
setting up funeral parlors would help earn some money.
"I
assure you [that] you won't go bankrupt. If your business slows I will
tell the police, 'Do it faster to help the people earn money.'"
During
his speech, Duterte said that some of the major problems Philippines is facing, includes, "corruption,
both in the high and low echelons in government, criminality in the
streets and the rampant sale of illegal drugs in all strata of
Philippines society and the breakdown of law and order."
He warned that his fight against crime would be "relentless and
sustained," pledging that it will remain within the boundaries of the
law.
"As a lawyer and former prosecutor, I know the limits of
the power and authority of the president. I know what is legal and what
is not. My adherence to due process and rule of law is uncompromising," Duterte vowed.
According
to Manila Bulletin, local drug lords had they raised the bounty they
had put on the president. Over $1 million has now been promised for the
assassination of the new leader.
Duterte, however is not deterred as he in turn offered a reward of 5 million pesos ($108,000) for a drug
lord "if he is dead," urging the public to join his far-reaching
anti-crime fight.
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