Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte Says Drug Users 'Aren't Human'

Since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte came to power in a landslide victory in May, around 2,000 people have been killed in his hardline war on drugs and crime. This widespread killing of drug users under the Duterte Government has raised concern from the United Nations, who urged the Filipino president to stop the slayings of drug dealers and users in the country's streets.

However, on Friday President Duterte argued the killings couldn't be considered crimes against humanity because those being killed "aren't human." Specifically, while visiting a group of soldiers, he asked: "Crime against humanity? In the first place, I'd like to be frank with you: are they humans? What is your definition of a human being?"

"You cannot wage a war without killing," he added, going on to suggest drug users are beyond hope of rehabilitation anyway.

The Philippine Inquirer keeps a detailed list of those killed day-to-day, chronicling names, ages, and why they were killed. While police have shot dead some of these people, the majority have been slain by vigilantes, who the Duterte government has failed to crack down on.

In an expletive-laden speech at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Duterte also pushed back against the UN, saying the international community was breaking protocol by telling the Philippines how they should deal with drug users.

"When I was mayor, you can really criticise me… call me names. But these dimwits forgot that I'm now a President and I represent a country," he said. "Do not go outside to the media and start blabbering your mouth because I represent a sovereign state."

The speech came just days after President Duterte threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the UN entirely. "Maybe we'll just have to decide to separate from the United Nations," he said in English during an address in Davao City before adding in the local language Tagalog—according to CNN translators—"If you are that insulting, son of a bitch, we should just leave… Take us out of your organisation. You have done nothing anyway."

An extensive New Yorker profile profile—released on the same day as the President's speech—paints a dark picture of life under the Duterte regime. Writer Barbara Demick explains that those killed include both drug users and dealers, and innocent bystanders—including a five-year-old girl, Danica Garcia, who was killed by gunmen allegedly targeting her grandfather who shot into their family home.

Duterte was the mayor of the Filipino city of Davao for 22 years, where he established his reputation as a hardliner against drugs. He was a divisive figure, praised by some for cleaning up the once crime-ridden city. However, Duterte was also accused of supporting the so-called "Davao Death Squad" that would shoot individuals in drive-bys across the island of Mindanao.