Philippines president defends killing dealers

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said his bloody anti-drug campaign that has left nearly 1,800 people dead does not amount to genocide, but that he’s ready to go to jail to defend his men from lawsuits.

Duterte drew a line between the widespread killings sparked by his anti-drug war and the brutality under Syrian president Bashar Assad and the atrocities committed by Islamic State group extremists.

“Genocide? Who did I kill? I did not kill any child. I did not drop barrel (bombs) just like Assad,” Duterte said in a speech to mark the Philippines’ national heroes day before war veterans, ambassadors and top officials.