'I will arrest you'- Duterte warns ICC lawyer to steer clear of Philippines

For a national leader to be aggressive towards the ICC shows he knows he has pushed the boundaries. Being a narcissist, this behavior is text book. Blame anyone just not him.

Hitting out at what he said was an international effort to paint him as a "ruthless and heartless violator of human rights"

He is

technically, the Philippines never actually joined the ICC, because it was not announced in the country's official gazette.

"If there is no publication, it is as if there is no law at all," Duterte said on Friday.

Stupidest argument ever.

Good and strong leader, with balls, says what he thinks, unlike some of those from European countries.

This guy really is a monster. I wonder who his role models are? Hitler? Stalin? Pol Pot?

Hes doing what needs to be done to help his country. the drug problems in philippines are so rampant.

Killing thousands without just trial may not be moral or lawful but it is making the country safer place.

Ultimately he has the support of his people (well over 80% approval rating, the last i read), which is almost unheard of in a democratic country.

Joe YanToday  03:15 pm JST

Hes doing what needs to be done to help his country. the drug problems in philippines are so rampant. 

Killing thousands without just trial may not be moral or lawful but it is making the country safer place.

what the hell? Killing thousands without trial as you said not moral or lawful? How does that make the country safer? Is it OK for me to shoot someone because I suspect they are a threat? Dirty T-Shirt, no socks I'm going to pump multiple rounds into their head.

many countries have a drug problem but don't have a free range death sentence, instead a robust court system combined with medical help. Perhaps the focus should be on the justice system. Certainly not making the Philippines a safe place, you can be killed at a moments notice.

I didn't like the way that boy looked at me, he must be on drugs? Bang bang problem solved?????

Killing thousands without just trial may not be moral or lawful

Change ‘may not be’ to ‘is not’.

I wonder how you’d feel if your innocent child, brother or sister or mother or father was murdered in the name of making the country a ‘safer place’.

Would that justify killing Duterte in the name of making the country a more “lawful or moral” place?

When did Japan have any bearing on the Philippines (opss 1940s) and the JA killed anyone they felt worthy so if the President of the Philippines is just following a historical precedent.

From an outsider's view, I would say Duterte is doing now, what is necessary for his Country's situation.

Though he needs to show that he has an "afterwards plan", other than simply kill everyone.

The Catholic Church with it's don't use Condom's preaching should also be held to account for some of the problems there too... they prey upon poverty, so sort of encourage it too - which in itself breeds Drug dealing and usage.

Duterte needs to find a way to pull his Country out of Poverty and away from the Extremists and make that his legacy objective for the People - rather than for his own self gain ! I hope he finds a way to do so, regardless what others think. Failing to do so, will just result in him becoming another Marcos.... and that would be so sad for such a lovely Country.

@Reckless - Even in the Philippines you are free to vote with your feet and leave the Country, in fact, most need to. What is sad, is the level of Poverty there. It's little wonder that the Philippines has a huge problem with online Child exploitation, or online video porn sharing - some may think this is harmless money making for poor people, but it's not! It's desperation, the alternatives ? Drug dealing, Prostitution, etc ...

Do you know how many Mothers of young families work overseas away from their Kids in order to be the Bread Winner for their Families ? The situation there is dire.

Duterte appears to bring with him hope... something that many didn't have. I pray that he delivers.

A close friend told me of the same type of situation in Peru under Fujimori some decades back where governments were huffing & puffing for the same basic reason. In those days it was the Shining Path, Maoists killing left & right. I had spent years listening to the US & other western media. I now heard the other side

Today it's drug dealers in the Philippines.

This friend said he understood both sides of the argument but that now (then) Peru was at peace & people happy.

I believe in law and order but there are times a government is chosen with a clear mandate to solve a problem. Dutarte is solving it. Drug dealers target users & ultimately destroy their lives every much as a bullet from a policeman's gun targets the drug dealer. Should we allow the dealers to kill more minds & lives while hiding behind 'civilized' laws saying the dealers deserve a fair trial, etc?

It's a call. Dutarte was elected to do the job. We should incriminate all those voting for 'such an animal'!?

We're not there. We have no right to second guess anyone.

@zichi - exactly, what you did was very commendable, and Christian. Their predicament is a story that exemplified what I stated, their life is harsh especially back home.

Go Dutarte goes, do it right and do it what is good for your country. All countries are not same and they have difference society and value.

In the west, using dug is his or her own business and small time pushers and users are not taking serious by law enforcement or Judges. The drug users can claim Social security Dole on the ground of mental illness but poor country like Philippine, there's no social security welfare in the country and the drug users have to commit crimes to support their habit. Also, the drug has destroy many lives and many families. The children born from drug users may have lower IQ and health problem. The drug is destroying the nation.

Soft law on drug trafficking and drug using has increasing drug users and serious crimes in country like Australia. Almost everyday, Australian States and Territories Police and Federal Police force are dealing with homicide crime and shooting related drug dealing in capital Cities. Only capital punishment for drug traffickers and producers can reduce drug related crimes. However, I don't agree with Philippine Government style, givin license to Police force to kill drug dealers and small time pushers. Police should be taken drug dealers to the court instead of killing. However, President Dutarte's formular is working in Philippine. Outsiders have no right to interfere his country judiciary. No country has accepted international police or criminal court.

Joe Yan; the problem with people like Dutarte is that he is killing the innocent with the criminal's. Just because the police "think" you broke the law but they haven't collected any evidence against you yet doesn't make you a criminal. If you take the laws away from man you have chaos, and that is what is going on under Dutarte's reign. Or the better question, would you want to be a person of interest who is innocent living in the Phillipine's today?

Killing thousands without just trial may not be moral or lawful but it is making the country safer place.

No, it's not. It's degrading the rule of law, which causes countries to be less safe.

I am not certain where anti-Duterte people get their facts. If it is from foreign news - forget it, the facts and counter-arguments are filtered-out to sensationalize the first Philippine President to tell the powers-that-be to shut up. He’s been tagged evil from day 1