Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has renewed a threat to kill drug dealers after police seized 756kg of methamphetamines.
Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte in November during a late-night press conference at Malacanang Palace in Manila, where he criticised Vice-President Leni Robredo - who has led his anti-drug crackdown - for discussing her work with the UN. Photo: Ted ALJIBE / AFP
Duterte said the haul proved the Southeast Asian country had become a transshipment point for narcotics.
The crystal methamphetamine, with a Philippine market value that police put at 5.1 billion pesos ($US102.22m), was one of the biggest drug seizures since Duterte unleashed his bloody war on drugs, which has defined his presidency, in 2016.
"If you destroy my country distributing 5.1 billion pesos worth of shabu ... I will kill you," Duterte said in a recorded speech.
He did not say where the drugs were believed to have come from but said the Philippines was a transshipment centre for Mexican drugs gangsters.
Duterte also hurled insults at human rights groups for criticising his anti-narcotics campaign.
The United Nations said in a report on Thursday tens of thousands of people in the Philippines may have been killed in the war on drugs amid "near impunity" for police and incitement to violence by top officials.
Government data put the number of suspected drug dealers and users killed in police anti-narcotics operations since July 2016 at 5600.
Rights group have said the police summarily executed suspects. Police have denied that, saying they acted in self defence when suspects resisted arrest.
Duterte's office dismissed the UN report as "rehashed claims" and the accusation of impunity as unfounded.
- Reuters
