White House calls Duterte killing boasts ‘deeply troubling

White House spokesman Josh Earnest (pictured) says those comments are at odds with the Philippine government’s commitment to the rule of law. (Photo: White House)

WASHINGTON—The White House says recent boasts by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte that he used to drive around looking for criminals to kill are “deeply troubling.”

Duterte said in a speech on Monday that as a former mayor he’d patrol on a motorcycle hunting for criminals to kill to set an example for police to follow. Duterte said he was “really looking for an encounter to be able to kill.”

White House spokesman Josh Earnest says those comments are at odds with the Philippine government’s commitment to the rule of law. He says the U.S. remains concerned about extrajudicial killings by Duterte’s administration. Earnest says the U.S. supports a thorough, credible and transparent investigation.

Duterte’s harsh crackdown on illegal drugs has led to thousands of deaths in police gunbattles.