Presidential Communications Operations Office(MANILLA, Philippines) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has told the BBC he shot three mean dead while mayor of Davao, confirming an earlier report.
His statement comes hours after a spokesman said the president personally had not killed anyone. Dutere did, however, deny reports that he shot people who were kneeling down with their hands tied behind their back.
Duterte was the mayor of Davao for two decades, earning a reputation for suppressing crime and was accused of sponsporing death squads. The president pledged to wage war on drug dealers while running for office, and thousands are said to have died as a result of the drug war since he was elected back in May.
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