Activists burn an effigy during a protest against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte near the presidential palace.

MANILA: Thousands of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's critics and supporters held rival rallies yesterday, taking emotional national debates over his deadly drug war and martial-law threats to the streets.

Police in battle gear were mustered to keep order as protesters held a series of rallies across Manila, using the 45th anniversary of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos imposing martial law to warn that Mr Duterte was equally violent and authoritarian.

"Our country is turning into a graveyard. People are getting killed every day and we bury the dead every day, just like in the time of Marcos," anti-Duterte protest leader Pedro Gonzales told AFP.

Manila police said about 5,000 people took part in the anti-Duterte protest near the presidential palace, where about 3,000 of his supporters also gathered.

The numbers of supporters reflected his popularity with many Filipinos, who see him as their best chance to quell crime and corruption.

The crackdown has triggered wider violence with thousands of other people being murdered in unexplained circumstances that rights groups partly attribute to vigilante death squads.

Mr Gonzales led about 300 people to the gate of the Philippine military headquarters.

Hoisting "No to Martial Law" and "Stop the Killings" banners, they burned a poster bearing a composite picture of Mr Duterte and Marcos, as about 70 unarmed policemen blocked their way.

The protesters were backed by the politicians and leaders of the Catholic Church, the country's main religion, signalling a rising opposition to Mr Duterte.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, denounced the drug killings at another mass yesterday, saying Catholics must "do more" than lighting candles for the dead and helping orphans.

"Stand up. To keep quiet in the face of evil is a sin," he said.</s>Thousands rally for and against Philippines’ Duterte

A cube effigy with a face of President Rodrigo Duterte is seen while protesters march toward the Malacanang presidential palace during a National Day of Protest in metro Manila, Philippines September 21, 2017. — Reuters picMANILA, Sept 21 — Thousands of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s critics and supporters held rival rallies today, taking emotional national debates over his deadly drug war and martial-law threats to the streets.

Police in battle gear were mustered to keep order as protesters held a series of rallies across the capital of Manila, using the 45th anniversary of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos imposing martial law to warn that Duterte was equally violent and authoritarian.

“Our country is turning into a graveyard. People are getting killed everyday and we bury the dead everyday, just like in the time of Marcos,” anti-Duterte protest leader Pedro Gonzales told AFP.

But supporters of Duterte also turned up in large numbers, reflecting his popularity with many Filipinos who see him as a charismatic, anti-establishment politician who is their best chance to quell crime and corruption.

Duterte vowed in last year's election campaign to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing up to 100,000 traffickers and addicts.

Since he assumed office 15 months ago police have reported killing more than 3,800 people in anti-drug operations.

The crackdown has triggered wider violence with thousands of other people being murdered in unexplained circumstances that rights groups partly attribute to vigilante death squads.

Gonzales led about 300 people to the gate of the Philippine military headquarters.

Hoisting “No to Martial Law” and “Stop the Killings” banners, they burnt a poster bearing a composite picture of Duterte and Marcos, and captioned “Fascist”, as about 70 unarmed policemen blocked their way.

Police said thousands of anti-Duterte protesters as well as his supporters later gathered outside Malacanang presidential palace.

The anti-Duterte crowd burned a “Rody’s Cube”, wooden block art styled after the Rubik’s Cube 3-D puzzle with the interchangeable faces of Marcos and Duterte.

The protesters were backed by the political opposition and leaders of the Catholic Church, the Asian country’s dominant religion, signalling a rising opposition to Duterte.

Vice President Leni Robredo and Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino, both critics of the incumbent leader, attended a separate mass for the drug war dead Thursday.

“The good part of this is there are so many people concerned, from different ages,” Aquino told reporters.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, denounced the drug killings at another mass today, saying Catholics must “do more” than lighting candles for the dead and helping orphans.

“Stand up. To keep quiet in the face of evil is a sin,” he said.

Manila police said about 5,000 people took part in the anti-Duterte protest near the palace, where about 3,000 supporters of the president also gathered nearby.

A pro-Duterte rally attended by 12,000 people was held in front of a Catholic church just over a kilometre (0.6-mile) away, police added. — AFP</s>The Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, has said he would have his son killed if drug trafficking allegations against the younger politician were true, and that the police who carry out the hit would be protected from prosecution.



Paolo Duterte, 42, appeared this month before a senate inquiry to deny accusations made by an opposition lawmaker that he was a member of a Chinese triad gang who helped smuggle in a huge shipment of crystal methamphetamine from China.

Duterte did not refer to the allegations specifically but reiterated his statement from last year’s election campaign that none of his children were involved in drugs, but they would face the harshest punishment if they were.

“I said before my order was: ‘If I have children who are into drugs, kill them so people will not have anything to say,’” Duterte said in a speech on Wednesday night in front of government workers at the presidential palace in Manila.

“So I told Pulong [Paolo’s nickname]: ‘My order is to kill you if you are caught. And I will protect the police who kill you, if it is true,’” he said.

Duterte, 72, won the presidential elections on a brutal law-and-order platform in which he promised an unprecedented campaign to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing up to 100,000 traffickers and addicts.

Since he assumed office in the middle of last year, police have reported killing more than 3,800 people in anti-drug operations while thousands of others have been murdered in unexplained circumstances.

Thousands of his critics and supporters held rival rallies on Thursday, taking national debates over his deadly drug war and martial-law threats to the streets.

Police in battle uniforms were mustered to keep order as protesters held a series of rallies across Manila, using the 45th anniversary of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos imposing martial law to say Duterte was equally violent and authoritarian.

“Our country is turning into a graveyard. People are getting killed every day and we bury the dead every day, just like in the time of Marcos,” anti-Duterte protest leader Pedro Gonzales said.

But supporters of Duterte also turned up in large numbers, reflecting his popularity with many Filipinos who see him as a charismatic, anti-establishment politician who is their best chance to quell crime and corruption.

As president, Duterte has said he would be “happy to slaughter” 3 million drug addicts, and described children shot dead in the drug war as “collateral damage”. But he has also repeatedly insisted he has never instructed police to do anything illegal, and that they must only kill in self-defence.

The anti-Duterte protesters were backed by the political opposition and leaders of the Catholic church, the country’s dominant religion, signalling a rising opposition to Duterte.

Leni Robredo, the vice-president, and Benigno Aquino, Duterte’s predecessor – both critics of the incumbent leader – attended a separate mass on Thursday for those killed in the drug war. “The good part of this is there are so many people concerned, from different ages,” Aquino told reporters.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, denounced the drug killings at another mass on Thursday, saying Catholics must do more than lighting candles for the dead and helping orphans. “Stand up. To keep quiet in the face of evil is a sin,” he said.</s>Opponents of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's ruthless war on drugs — which has claimed the lives of thousands of men, woman and children — are finally joining forces.

And from inside the walls of a VIP detention facility in Manila, one critic has gone so far as to call him a "beast" and a "sociopath".

Thousands of people have been gunned down in the state-sanctioned, year-long crackdown, primarily poor Filipinos.

The 45th anniversary of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos's declaration of martial law has become a rallying point, with a national day of protest declared.

But speaking out about human rights violations comes at a price.

Political opponents of the President have been silenced, or, as in the case of the former chair of the Commission on Human Rights, detained — on charges she claims are trumped up.

Last year, the President warned Senator Leila de Lima she would "rot in jail".

Not long after he issued that warning, she was arrested and charged with drug trafficking. She's accused of aiding the illegal drug trade inside a national jail when she was justice secretary.

Many believe she was framed.

Senator de Lima is now in a special detention facility at Camp Crame, the national police headquarters in Manila, which under Marcos was a major detention facility.

The Senator raised the President's ire by instigating an inquiry into police death squads in the city of Davao — where President Duterte was once the mayor. That position is now held by his daughter.

On the eve of her surrender to the authorities six months ago, Senator de Lima faced the cameras.

"They accused me of benefiting from drug money, they accused me of receiving. They accuse me of coddling or protecting convicts. It's all lies."

I made contact with Senator De Lima through her staff before I travelled to the Philippines.

Access is tightly controlled at the detention facility, but Senator De Lima agreed to meet me as a friend.

I was added to the visitor's list and on the prescribed day, presented at Camp Crame.

I wasn't allowed to take in cameras or recording equipment, so when we met, we made notes together.

Senator de Lima remained defiant — she said President Duterte is a "beast" and a "sociopath".

In the space of a year, it's estimated that more than 12,000 people have been killed in the state-sanctioned war against drug users and dealers.

And Senator de Lima said that ultimately, President Duterte is responsible for their deaths.

The Catholic Church is one of the country's few other pockets of resistance against President Duterte's drug war.

The Church has been damaged in recent years by political baggage and its conservative stance on contraception, and is no longer the country's first stop for political or moral guidance.

But Catholic Filipinos still worship in droves, and Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, agreed to speak with me.

"The situation is bad now because it is extrajudicial killings — that means there is no process," he said.

The Church has been slow to take on the President, but it is speaking out now and urging others to do so.

"We were not speaking in public … there were efforts to speak to the President in private to see if this can be done privately. But it seems that it could not — that's why you have to speak in public," said Bishop Pabillo.

"Besides, we [have] to bring it out in public to educate the people that this is wrong, that this can not continue."

'Our law allows it'

In an effort to shield his drug crackdown from criticism, the President has taken the extraordinary step of telling police to kill his eldest son if they find him involved in the narcotics trade.

Paolo Duterte, the vice mayor of Davao, faced a Senate inquiry this month accused of involvement in the drug trade — a claim he dismissed as "baseless".

According to local media, in a speech to Filipino workers this week, the President reiterated that he told his son:

Jesus "Jess" Dureza is a former classmate of and now adviser to President Duterte.

Few of the President's close friends have spoken publicly about him, but Mr Dureza — who says he helped convince his friend to run for the presidency — agreed to share his thoughts.

Both men are lawyers, and according to Mr Dureza both are aware of the legal boundaries of this battle.

"You can kill people, but it has to be under justifiable reasons, and our law allows it," he said.

"Your problem is that every killing is supposed to be condemned.

I asked him how and why the Philippines are different.

"Well, we have common shared values and respect for human dignity, human rights," Mr Dureza said.

"But we have very different social issues and problems.

"If other foreign countries consider drug use as something they can tolerate and allow, and even try to contain without addressing it forcefully — that's your privilege."

Watch Ginny Stein's stories from Manila Wednesday and Thursday on Lateline at 9:30pm AEST on ABC News and 10:30pm on ABC TV. Listen to Background Briefing via podcast on Friday or on RN at 8:00am Sunday.</s>Busloads of individuals from Manila, Caloocan and Makati converged at the Mendiola Peace Arch to support President Rodrigo Duterte and his war against illegal drugs.

Thousands of representatives, some from local government offices, expressed their condemnation against “drug addicts who harmed their children during the past administration.”

“Ito po ang kaganapan during the last administration. Every time magbabasa tayo ng pahayagan, isang law-abiding citizen papatayin ng kriminal na adik. Kaya ito ang pinaglalaban natin,” said Martin Diño, chair of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and known Duterte supporter.

Diño said they support the President’s campaign against drug addicts as he retold an instance that prove drug addicts’ actions against “law-abiding citizens.”

(Our children would request from us, can you give me a phone for my birthday? We would work hard for this to give it to them. But we wouldn’t know if they are riding with a drug addict thief in a jeep. They would steal the phone, but why would they need to kill our loved one? Is this an act of a sane person or a drug addict?

While Pro-Duterte rallyists gather in front of Centro Escolar University, protesters condemning the President held their program at the other side of the Mendiola Peace Arch, holding placards and banners likening Duterte to former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. /je</s>Rodrigo Duterte has ordered police to kill his eldest son if drug trafficking allegations against him are proven true.

The Philippine President added he would make sure those who carried out the execution would be protected from prosecution.

The 72-year-old, speaking to government workers at the presidential palace in Manila, insisted death would be the result for any of his children involved in drugs.

We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view. From 15p €0.18 $0.18 USD 0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras.

"I said before my order was: ’If I have children who are into drugs, kill them so people will not have anything to say’,” he said.

"So I told Pulong (his son’s nickname): ’My order is to kill you if you are caught, and I will protect the police who kill you, if it is true’.”

Paulo Duterte appeared before a Senate inquiry earlier this month to deny links to a seized shipment of $125m (£93m) worth of crystal methamphetamine from China.

Opponents of his father, who has begun a brutal crackdown on the drugs trade, say they believe the 42-year-old may have helped ease the entry of the shipment into Manila.

Senator Antonio Trillanes, a staunch critic of the President, told the Senate panel he had intelligence that Mr Duterte was a member of a criminal gang, citing a “dragon-like” tattoo with secret digits on his back.

Mr Duterte admitted he had a tattoo, but refused to describe it and told the panel there was “no way” he would allow a photo to be taken and sent to the US Drug Enforcement Agency for decoding.

Presidential spokesman, Ernesto Abella, said the presence of the younger Duterte showed he was “willing and ready to face malicious allegations” intended to impugn his “character and credibility”.

Shape Created with Sketch. The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Show all 9 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte 1/9 On killing drug addicts “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. If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful” 2/9 Message to China “I will go there on my own with a Jet Ski, bringing along with me a [Phillipino] flag and a pole, and once I disembark, I will plant the flag on the runway and tell the Chinese authorities, ‘Kill me’ ” AP 3/9 Christmas message to law-breakers “If you do not want to stop, and just continue committing crimes, then this would be your last Merry Christmas” AP 4/9 On sex life “I was separated from my wife. I’m not impotent. What am I supposed to do? Let this hang forever? When I take Viagra, it stands up” AFP/Getty Images 5/9 On the drugs trade “None of my children are into illegal drugs. But my order is, even if it is a member of my family, ‘kill him'" AP 6/9 Insulting the Pope “We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the pope. I wanted to call him: ‘Pope, son of a wh**e, go home. Do not visit us again’” AFP/Getty Images 7/9 Joke about rape “I saw her face and I thought, 'What a pity... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first” AFP/Getty 8/9 Insulting Barack Obama "Mr Obama should be respectful and refrain from throwing questions at me about the killings, or son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum" REUTERS 9/9 On Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants "If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you. If you annoy me to the fullest... I will eat you alive. Raw" EPA 1/9 On killing drug addicts “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. If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful” 2/9 Message to China “I will go there on my own with a Jet Ski, bringing along with me a [Phillipino] flag and a pole, and once I disembark, I will plant the flag on the runway and tell the Chinese authorities, ‘Kill me’ ” AP 3/9 Christmas message to law-breakers “If you do not want to stop, and just continue committing crimes, then this would be your last Merry Christmas” AP 4/9 On sex life “I was separated from my wife. I’m not impotent. What am I supposed to do? Let this hang forever? When I take Viagra, it stands up” AFP/Getty Images 5/9 On the drugs trade “None of my children are into illegal drugs. But my order is, even if it is a member of my family, ‘kill him'" AP 6/9 Insulting the Pope “We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the pope. I wanted to call him: ‘Pope, son of a wh**e, go home. Do not visit us again’” AFP/Getty Images 7/9 Joke about rape “I saw her face and I thought, 'What a pity... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first” AFP/Getty 8/9 Insulting Barack Obama "Mr Obama should be respectful and refrain from throwing questions at me about the killings, or son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum" REUTERS 9/9 On Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants "If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you. If you annoy me to the fullest... I will eat you alive. Raw" EPA

Since Mr Duterte’s election on 30 June last year, police records show more than 3,800 people have died in anti-drug operations, with more than 2,100 separate murders linked to drugs.

The Philippine leader has insisted he would quit if critics could prove any of his children were involved in corruption.</s>Thousands of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's critics and supporters held rival rallies Thursday, taking emotional national debates over his deadly drug war and martial-law threats to the streets.

Police in battle gear were mustered to keep order as protesters held a series of rallies across the capital of Manila, using the 45th anniversary of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos imposing martial law to warn that Duterte was equally violent and authoritarian.

"Our country is turning into a graveyard. People are getting killed everyday and we bury the dead everyday, just like in the time of Marcos," anti-Duterte protest leader Pedro Gonzales told AFP.

But supporters of Duterte also turned up in large numbers, reflecting his popularity with many Filipinos who see him as a charismatic, anti-establishment politician who is their best chance to quell crime and corruption.

Duterte vowed in last year's election campaign to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing up to 100,000 traffickers and addicts.

Since he assumed office 15 months ago police have reported killing more than 3,800 people in anti-drug operations.

The crackdown has triggered wider violence with thousands of other people being murdered in unexplained circumstances that rights groups partly attribute to vigilante death squads.

Gonzales led about 300 people to the gate of the Philippine military headquarters.

Hoisting "No to Martial Law" and "Stop the Killings" banners, they burnt a poster bearing a composite picture of Duterte and Marcos, and captioned "Fascist", as about 70 unarmed policemen blocked their way.

Police said thousands of anti-Duterte protesters as well as his supporters later gathered outside Malacanang presidential palace.

The anti-Duterte crowd burned a "Rody's Cube", wooden block art styled after the Rubik's Cube 3-D puzzle with the interchangeable faces of Marcos and Duterte.

The protesters were backed by the political opposition and leaders of the Catholic Church, the Asian country's dominant religion, signalling a rising opposition to Duterte.

Vice President Leni Robredo and Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino, both critics of the incumbent leader, attended a separate mass for the drug war dead Thursday.

"The good part of this is there are so many people concerned, from different ages," Aquino told reporters.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, denounced the drug killings at another mass Thursday, saying Catholics must "do more" than lighting candles for the dead and helping orphans.

"Stand up. To keep quiet in the face of evil is a sin," he said.

Manila police said about 5,000 people took part in the anti-Duterte protest near the palace, where about 3,000 supporters of the president also gathered nearby.

A pro-Duterte rally attended by 12,000 people was held in front of a Catholic church just over a kilometre (0.6-mile) away, police added.</s>Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he will have his son killed if drug trafficking allegations against the younger politician are true, and that the police who carry out the hit will be protected from prosecution. Paolo Duterte, 42, this month appeared before a senate inquiry to deny accusations made by an opposition lawmaker he was a member of a Chinese triad who helped smuggle in a huge shipment of crystal methamphetamine from China.

President Duterte did not refer to the allegations specifically but reiterated his statement from last year’s election campaign that none of his children were involved in drugs, but they would face the harshest punishment if they were. “I said before my order was: ‘If I have children who are into drugs, kill them so people will not have anything to say’,” Duterte said in a speech on Wednesday night before government workers at the presidential palace in Manila.

“So I told Pulong (Paolo’s nickname): ‘My order is to kill you if you are caught. And I will protect the police who kill you, if it is true’,” he said. Duterte, 72, won the presidential elections on a brutal law-and-order platform in which he promised an unprecedented campaign to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing up to 100,000 traffickers and addicts.

Since he assumed office in the middle of last year, police have reported killing more than 3,800 people in anti-drug operations while thousands of others have been murdered in unexplained circumstances.

Duterte has as president said he would be “happy to slaughter” three million drug addicts, and described children shot dead in the drug war as “collateral damage”. But he has also repeatedly insisted he has never instructed police to do anything illegal, and that they must only kill in self-defence.

Duterte’s aides have cautioned journalists not to believe everything the president says, sometimes describing his comments as “merely rhetoric” or “hyperbole”. Some opposition lawmakers and other Duterte critics allege he and his family have long been involved in corrupt activities dating back to the president’s two-decade reign as mayor of the southern city of Davao.

Duterte denies all allegations of corruption, and insists he is an anti-graft crusader who lives a humble lifestyle. In this month’s senate hearing, the opposition lawmaker said Paolo Duterte, who is vice mayor of Davao, and the president’s son-in-law were involved in a criminal syndicate called the “Davao Group”.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App</s>Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has said that he will kill his son if drug trafficking allegations against him are true. He also assured that police officials, who carry out the hit against the younger politician, will be protected from prosecution.

Duterte's son, 42-year-old Paolo, appeared before a senate enquiry this month to deny the accusations made by an opposition lawmaker. Paolo has also been accused of being a member of a Chinese triad who assisted in a huge shipment of crystal methamphetamine from China.

The opposition lawmaker had also alleged that Paolo and the president's son-in-law were involved in a criminal syndicate called the "Davao Group". The duo, however, denied any involvement in the syndicate.

Although the Philippines President did not make a reference to the allegations laid against him, he mentioned specifically in a statement that none of his children were involved in drug trafficking, and that they would face the harshest form of punishment if it was found out that they were.

"I said before my order was: 'If I have children who are into drugs, kill them so people will not have anything to say'," Duterte said in an address to government workers at the presidential palace in Manila.

"So, I told Pulong (Paolo's nickname): 'My order is to kill you if you are caught. And I will protect the police who kill you, if it is true'," he said.

Duterte has been embroiled in controversies ever since he took over as the President in June. He has encouraged citizens in the Philippines to bring drug peddlers to justice in the country as part of his crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users. According to reports, nearly 1 lakh drug traffickers and addicts have been killed in the crackdown.

Duterte has often threatened drug suspects with death. Earlier this year, he had said that he would be happy to "slaughter" three million drug addicts, and described children shot dead in the drug war as "collateral damage".

However, Duterte has also repeatedly insisted that he has never asked police to do anything illegal and that the officials must only kill in self-defence.

Duterte denies all allegations of corruption, and insists he is an anti-graft crusader who lives a humble lifestyle. In this month's senate hearing, the opposition lawmaker said Paolo Duterte, who is vice mayor of Davao, and the president's son-in-law were involved in a criminal syndicate called the "Davao Group".</s>Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte “has said he will have his son killed if drug trafficking allegations against the younger politician are true, and that the police who carry out the hit will be protected from prosecution,” AFP reports.

“Paolo Duterte, 42, this month appeared before a senate inquiry to deny accusations made by an opposition lawmaker he was a member of a Chinese triad who helped smuggle in a huge shipment of crystal methamphetamine from China.”
Speaking to government workers at the presidential palace in Manila, President Rodrigo Duterte orders police to kill his eldest son, Paulo Duterte, if drug trafficking allegations against him are proven true, and adds that those who carried out the execution would be protected from prosecution.