MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte slammed the United States yesterday for expressing concern over the killings linked to his war against drugs and dared it to explain supposed interference in other countries’ affairs.

He also vowed that the drug war would not stop as he again denied that the extrajudicial killings happening in the course of the campaign were state-sanctioned.

“I will suppress drugs at all cost, at any cost. That’s why there are cases and allegations about me (getting) prosecuted before this court and that… but there are stupid statements just like (that of America for example),” the President said during the opening of Palarong Pambansa in Antique.

The President warned drug lords anew, saying he would not hesitate to kill them if they destroy the children and youth of the land.

“Deaths will not stop. I am warning everybody into drugs or connected to drugs. If you continue with your business you will die,” Duterte said.

In a teleconference last Thursday, US Assistant Secretary of State for Southeast Asia Patrick Murphy said there are “elements in the Philippines’ drug war operating outside the rule of law.”

Murphy said the growing number of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines is “troubling” and that the US would continue to express concern on the issue publicly and privately.

“We are urging the Philippines to follow up on its commitment to investigate extrajudicial killings, whether they’re committed by law enforcement or of a vigilante nature,” Murphy said.

Duterte claimed the US had issued “stupid” statements against his crackdown on illegal drugs, a menace that he said has contaminated four million Filipinos. He had earlier lashed at former US president Barack Obama for criticizing his drug war as well.

Duterte went on to discuss the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 that he claimed caused more problems in the Middle East.

He said the US must explain how “in hell were they able to invade Iraq under the excuse or pretext of weapons of mass destruction that proved to be nonexistent and creating chaos in the country and killing (former Iraq president) Saddam (Hussein) for nothing.”

“Now the Middle East is on fire,” the President said.

Duterte also accused the US of undermining former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and recalled the US invasion of Panama in 1989 – moves that he said Washington must explain.

He said the US “shanghaied kidnapped (Panama) president (Manuel) Noriega of Panama to stand trial in New York, he is there serving time there,” the President said.

Duterte also demanded that the US explain why it went to Vietnam to “kill people” and why there are two African Americans who die everyday for every one dead white American.

“Unless they can explain it to me, I would say again, State Department, go to hell and don’t (…) with me,” Duterte said as he held back on dropping the f-word.

The President said the government is not behind extrajudicial killings but permitted policemen to shoot drug suspects if they feel that their lives are in danger. He claimed to be losing three to five policemen and soldiers everyday because of the war on drugs.

“What do you think is really happening? Shoot them immediately. Why do I have to lose a policeman and a military man? We spend a lot for their training and they will end up being killed?” Duterte said.

The Duterte administration has allowed local government units to establish drug rehabilitation centers across the country using part of their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

The government has been criticized for its bloody drug war and is being urged to refocus its campaign on rehabilitation rather than employing force to eliminate the menace. –With Delon Porcalla

Source: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/04/24/1693431/duterte-again-hits-us-criticizing-drug-war