— Reuters picMANILA, Dec 22 — The Philippines’ independent rights watchdog said today it will investigate President Rodrigo Duterte’s boasts he killed criminals years ago, invoking a strong rebuke from the Filipino leader against a United Nations official who called for the murder probe. Duterte said last week he helped the police kill three alleged criminals, accused of raping and killing an Australian missionary in Davao while he was mayor of the city in the southern Philippines, Efe news reported on Friday. Image copyright EPA Image caption Senator Leila De Lima has said Mr Duterte could face impeachment for his claims

On Tuesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said Mr Duterte's claims "clearly constitute murder" and he called on authorities to investigate. Only the Filipinos can call me a son of a bitch if I’m remiss in my job.”

Philippine Commission on Human Rights chief Jose Gascon said earlier today he had formed a team of investigators to look into alleged past killings by Duterte. He went on to state that the commission has “reconstituted a team to further investigate” allegations that, while serving as mayor of Davao, Duterte ran death squads that killed more than 1,000 petty criminals.
The Commission on Human Rights launches an investigation into alleged murders committed by current Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte.