MANILA, (Reuters) – Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines said Tuesday that he would never apologize for killing drug dealers and suspected users in his anti-drug war which has alarmed human rights groups.

According to government records, more than 6200 suspects in drug stings died since Duterte assumed office between June 2016 and November 2021.

Duterte stated in weekly national addresses that he would never, ever apologize for the deaths. Kill me or jail me. I will not apologise.”

Critics and rights groups claim that law enforcement officers have executed suspected drug dealers summarily, while police insist the victims were violently resisting arrest.

In his inaugural national address of the year, Duterte pledged to defend law enforcement officers doing their job and told them to stand up for their rights when they are in danger.

Duterte (76) won the presidency in 2016 with a large margin on a platform that promoted anti-corruption, law and order, and was a strong supporter of democracy.

This fiery leader cannot run for re-election in next year’s elections. According to some analysts, Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign could be shielded by an ally being elected.

Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in September approved a formal investigation https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/international-court-approves-investigation-into-philippines-war-drugs-2021-09-15 into Duterte’s war on drugs. The ICC suspended https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/icc-prosecutor-suspends-probe-into-philippines-drugs-war-2021-11-19 the probe in November following a request by the Philippines, which cited its own investigations.

Duterte unilaterally canceled the Philippines’ ICC membership on March 18, 2018, a month following the announcement by its prosecutor that a preliminary exam was being conducted over the drug war.