Ex-Philippine leader Benigno Aquino joined thousands of people on the streets of Manila Saturday as protests broke out against President Rodrigo Duterte&#39;s brutal war on drugs.

Demonstrators amassed near the national police headquarters, with some warning the Duterte crackdown foreshadowed a repeat of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship, which was toppled in a bloodless &quot;People Power&quot; revolution 31 years ago.

&quot;We are taking the matter seriously. We are warning our people about the threat of rising fascism,&quot; protest leader Bonifacio Ilagan told AFP after leading more than 1,000 protesters at a morning rally.

Ilagan, a playwright who was tortured over two years in a police prison under Marcos&#39; martial rule in the 1970s, cited the &quot;culture of impunity&quot; arising from Duterte&#39;s crackdown.

Duterte, 71, won the presidential election last year after promising during the campaign to eradicate drugs in society by killing tens of thousands of people.

He launched the crackdown after taking office in June and police have reported killing 2,555 drug suspects since then, with about 4,000 other people murdered in unexplained circumstances.

He has not ruled out using martial law to prevent what he describes as the country&#39;s slide to narco-state status.

Duterte, who ranks Marcos as one of the country&#39;s best-ever presidents, last year allowed the Marcos family to bury the former leader&#39;s remains at Manila&#39;s Cemetery for Heroes, leading to large street protests.

Wearing a black shirt Duterte&#39;s predecessor Aquino marched alongside political allies and around 2,000 other protesters.

Aquino denounced the government&#39;s treatment of Senator Leila de Lima, the top critic of the Duterte drug war, who was arrested on Friday and faces life in prison if convicted of drugs charges.

De Lima, Aquino&#39;s former justice minister, said the arrest was an act of revenge for her decade-long efforts to expose Duterte as the leader of death squads during his time as mayor of the southern city of Davao.

&#39;Yes to peace&#39;&nbsp;

Aquino on Saturday also rejected allegations by Duterte spokesmen that people associated with the previous government were plotting to destabilise the new administration.

&quot;How can we be causing destabilisation when we are actually offering to help,&quot; Aquino said.

At one point, tempers rose as several protesters confronted a dozen young people who raised clenched fists while holding up a pro-Duterte banner nearby.

&quot;Why did you sell your soul?&quot; a white-haired man in a black shirt said, jabbing his finger at one of the Duterte supporters and telling him the president was &quot;responsible&quot; for drug-related murders.

&quot;They (deaths) are still being investigated,&quot; the young man replied calmly.

Television footage showed police hosing down a group of at least 100 people protesting the drug killings, though no one was seriously injured.

In a separate demonstration Saturday, around 150 anti-Marcos protesters chanting &quot;Exhume him&quot; marched on the cemetery where he is buried, but riot police stopped them near the gate, an AFP photographer saw.

Hundreds of Duterte supporters began gathering at a park across the city on Saturday for a planned overnight vigil to demonstrate public backing for Duterte&#39;s drug crackdown.

&quot;Yes to peace, no to destabilisation,&quot; one of their banners read.

Another banner identified its owners as &quot;Friends of Bongbong Marcos&quot;, the dictator&#39;s son Ferdinand Jnr.

(AFP)

Thousands amassed near the national police headquarters, with demonstrators warning against Duterte's 'rising fascism'

Ex-Philippine leader Benigno Aquino joined thousands of people on the streets of Manila Saturday as protests broke out against President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal war on drugs. Demonstrators amassed near the national police headquarters, with some warning the Duterte crackdown foreshadowed a repeat of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship, which was toppled in a bloodless "People Power" revolution 31 years ago. "We are taking the matter seriously. We are warning our people about the threat of rising fascism," protest leader Bonifacio Ilagan told AFP after leading more than 1,000 protesters at a morning rally. Ilagan, a playwright who was tortured over two years in a police prison under Marcos' martial rule in the 1970s, cited the "culture of impunity" arising from Duterte's crackdown. Duterte, 71, won the presidential election last year after promising during the campaign to eradicate drugs in society by killing tens of thousands of people. He launched the crackdown after taking office in June and police have reported killing 2,555 drug suspects since then, with about 4,000 other people murdered in unexplained circumstances. He has not ruled out using martial law to prevent what he describes as the country's slide to narco-state status. Duterte, who ranks Marcos as one of the country's best-ever presidents, last year allowed the Marcos family to bury the former leader's remains at Manila's Cemetery for Heroes, leading to large street protests. Wearing a black shirt Duterte's predecessor Aquino marched alongside political allies and around 2,000 other protesters. Aquino denounced the government's treatment of Senator Leila de Lima, the top critic of the Duterte drug war, who was arrested on Friday and faces life in prison if convicted of drugs charges. De Lima, Aquino's former justice minister, said the arrest was an act of revenge for her decade-long efforts to expose Duterte as the leader of death squads during his time as mayor of the southern city of Davao. 'Yes to peace' Aquino on Saturday also rejected allegations by Duterte spokesmen that people associated with the previous government were plotting to destabilise the new administration. "How can we be causing destabilisation when we are actually offering to help," Aquino said. At one point, tempers rose as several protesters confronted a dozen young people who raised clenched fists while holding up a pro-Duterte banner nearby. "Why did you sell your soul?" a white-haired man in a black shirt said, jabbing his finger at one of the Duterte supporters and telling him the president was "responsible" for drug-related murders. "They (deaths) are still being investigated," the young man replied calmly. Television footage showed police hosing down a group of at least 100 people protesting the drug killings, though no one was seriously injured. In a separate demonstration Saturday, around 150 anti-Marcos protesters chanting "Exhume him" marched on the cemetery where he is buried, but riot police stopped them near the gate, an AFP photographer saw. Hundreds of Duterte supporters began gathering at a park across the city on Saturday for a planned overnight vigil to demonstrate public backing for Duterte's drug crackdown. "Yes to peace, no to destabilisation," one of their banners read. Another banner identified its owners as "Friends of Bongbong Marcos", the dictator's son Ferdinand Jnr. (AFP)

Mass protests against Duterte's ruthless war on drugs

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to impose martial rule to prosecute his deadly war on drugs, three decades after the nation shed dictatorship with a famous &quot;People Power&quot; revolt.

&quot;If I wanted to, and it (the illegal drugs problem) will deteriorate into something really very virulent, I will declare martial law if I wanted to. No one will be able to stop me,&quot; Duterte said in a speech on Saturday night.

The 71-year-old former state prosecutor said the aim would be &quot;to preserve the Filipino people and the youth of this land&quot;.

Duterte won elections in May last year on a pledge to wipe out illegal drugs, promising an unprecedented crackdown to stop the Philippines from becoming what he termed a narco state.

The crackdown has left at least 5,700 people dead in just over six months, raising concerns of a breakdown in the rule of law with security forces and vigilantes carrying out extrajudicial killings.

The Philippines&#39;&nbsp;longtime ally, the United States, has led international criticism of the killings, with outgoing President Barack Obama urging Duterte to prosecute his war &quot;the right way&quot;.

Duterte has reacted furiously to the criticism and vowed to continue his war until illegal drugs are eradicated.&nbsp;

Duterte has raised the prospect of imposing martial law previously.

However Saturday&#39;s comments were the most direct threat.

Martial rule would allow Duterte to use the military to enforce civilian law and detain people at length without charging them.

The Philippines last endured martial law during the 20-year rule of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was accused of plundering billions of dollars from state coffers and overseeing widespread human rights abuses.

Marcos declared martial law in 1972, invoking the threats of crime and a communist insurgency, and lifted it in 1981.

His rule ended in 1986, when millions took to the streets in the largely bloodless military-backed &quot;People Power&quot; revolt.

A new constitution drawn up in 1987 in an effort to avoid another dictatorship specified a single six-year presidential term.

It also said the president could impose martial rule for just 60 days and only to stop an invasion or a rebellion.&nbsp;

Parliament can revoke the measure within 48 hours while the Supreme Court can review its legality.

But Duterte, speaking to local businessmen in his southern home town of Davao city, warned he could ignore the 60-day limit.

&quot;The 60-day (limit) will be gone,&quot; he said.

&quot;And I`d tell you now, if I have to declare martial law, I will declare it -- not about invasion, insurrection, not about danger. I will declare martial law to preserve my nation -- period,&quot; he said.

(AFP)

Martial law would arm the country's military to detain people without charges, intended to provide further thrust to Duterte's war on drugs

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to impose martial rule to prosecute his deadly war on drugs, three decades after the nation shed dictatorship with a famous "People Power" revolt. "If I wanted to, and it (the illegal drugs problem) will deteriorate into something really very virulent, I will declare martial law if I wanted to. No one will be able to stop me," Duterte said in a speech on Saturday night. The 71-year-old former state prosecutor said the aim would be "to preserve the Filipino people and the youth of this land". Duterte won elections in May last year on a pledge to wipe out illegal drugs, promising an unprecedented crackdown to stop the Philippines from becoming what he termed a narco state. The crackdown has left at least 5,700 people dead in just over six months, raising concerns of a breakdown in the rule of law with security forces and vigilantes carrying out extrajudicial killings. The Philippines' longtime ally, the United States, has led international criticism of the killings, with outgoing President Barack Obama urging Duterte to prosecute his war "the right way". Duterte has reacted furiously to the criticism and vowed to continue his war until illegal drugs are eradicated. Duterte has raised the prospect of imposing martial law previously. However Saturday's comments were the most direct threat. Martial rule would allow Duterte to use the military to enforce civilian law and detain people at length without charging them. The Philippines last endured martial law during the 20-year rule of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was accused of plundering billions of dollars from state coffers and overseeing widespread human rights abuses. Marcos declared martial law in 1972, invoking the threats of crime and a communist insurgency, and lifted it in 1981. His rule ended in 1986, when millions took to the streets in the largely bloodless military-backed "People Power" revolt. A new constitution drawn up in 1987 in an effort to avoid another dictatorship specified a single six-year presidential term. It also said the president could impose martial rule for just 60 days and only to stop an invasion or a rebellion. Parliament can revoke the measure within 48 hours while the Supreme Court can review its legality. But Duterte, speaking to local businessmen in his southern home town of Davao city, warned he could ignore the 60-day limit. "The 60-day (limit) will be gone," he said. "And I`d tell you now, if I have to declare martial law, I will declare it -- not about invasion, insurrection, not about danger. I will declare martial law to preserve my nation -- period," he said. (AFP)

Philippines' Duterte threatens martial law to fight drug menace

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called the Western threats of pursuing his indictment in the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his involvement in a deadly offensive against drugs as &quot;bullshit&quot; on Monday.

&quot;You scare me that you will jail me? International Criminal Court? Bullshit,&quot; Duterte said during a speech.

Last month, an ICC prosecutor said the tribunal might have jurisdiction to prosecute the perpetrators of Philippines killings, news agency Reuters&nbsp;reported.

Police figures show Duterte&#39;s campaign has killed more than 2,500 people since he took office on June 30, about three-quarters in police counter-narcotics operations, and the rest believed to be the victims of vigilantes or druglords eliminating rivals or silencing those who could implicate them.

Duterte berated the United States for their hypocritical threats to try him in the international tribunal. There was no mention as to when the threats were made.

Duterte said that the US did not sign to be a part of the international body because they were protecting former president George W Bush.

&quot;America itself is threatening to jail me in the International Criminal Court,&quot; Duterte said. &quot;It is not a signatory of that body. Why? Because at that time, they were afraid Bush would face it.&quot;

US State Department spokesman John Kirby denied awareness of any threat on Monday.

Duterte has dismissed concerns of extrajudicial killings in his war against drugs and continuously insulted and ridiculed United States, European Union and the United Nations.

The brash former mayor and prosecutor said lawyers in Europe were &quot;rotten,&quot; &quot;stupid,&quot; and had a &quot;brain like a pea.&quot; He described the ICC as &quot;useless&quot; and said that he might withdraw from the body following Russia.

There is nothing wrong with threatening to kill bad elements, he said on Monday.

&quot;I will never allow my country to be thrown to the dogs,&quot; Duterte said. &quot;I said, when I was a mayor, &#39;If you destroy my city with drugs I will kill you.&#39;

&quot;Simple as that. ... When was it a crime to say, &#39;I will kill you&#39; in protecting my country?&quot;

(With inputs from Reuters)

An ICC prosecutor last month said the Hague-based tribunal might have jurisdiction to prosecute the perpetrators of Philippines killings

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called the Western threats of pursuing his indictment in the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his involvement in a deadly offensive against drugs as "bullshit" on Monday. "You scare me that you will jail me? International Criminal Court? Bullshit," Duterte said during a speech. Last month, an ICC prosecutor said the tribunal might have jurisdiction to prosecute the perpetrators of Philippines killings, news agency Reuters reported. Police figures show Duterte's campaign has killed more than 2,500 people since he took office on June 30, about three-quarters in police counter-narcotics operations, and the rest believed to be the victims of vigilantes or druglords eliminating rivals or silencing those who could implicate them. Duterte berated the United States for their hypocritical threats to try him in the international tribunal. There was no mention as to when the threats were made. Duterte said that the US did not sign to be a part of the international body because they were protecting former president George W Bush. "America itself is threatening to jail me in the International Criminal Court," Duterte said. "It is not a signatory of that body. Why? Because at that time, they were afraid Bush would face it." US State Department spokesman John Kirby denied awareness of any threat on Monday. Duterte has dismissed concerns of extrajudicial killings in his war against drugs and continuously insulted and ridiculed United States, European Union and the United Nations. The brash former mayor and prosecutor said lawyers in Europe were "rotten," "stupid," and had a "brain like a pea." He described the ICC as "useless" and said that he might withdraw from the body following Russia. There is nothing wrong with threatening to kill bad elements, he said on Monday. "I will never allow my country to be thrown to the dogs," Duterte said. "I said, when I was a mayor, 'If you destroy my city with drugs I will kill you.' "Simple as that. ... When was it a crime to say, 'I will kill you' in protecting my country?" (With inputs from Reuters)

Philippines' Duterte calls threats of International Criminal Court indictment 'bullshit'

Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte called US&nbsp;President Barack Obama, the European Union and United Nations &quot;fools&quot; on Thursday, and warned they would end up humiliated and outsmarted if they accepted an invitation to investigate his war on drugs.

Duterte said he was open to an outside probe by Obama, his secretary of state John Kerry, the EU and the UN&nbsp;Commission on Human Rights into alleged extrajudicial killings, but on the condition that after he was questioned, he had the right to be heard.

&quot;I&#39;ll play with you. I&#39;m very sure they cannot be brighter than me. I will ask five questions that will humiliate you,&quot; Duterte said. &quot;Watch out for that, it will be a spectacle.&quot;

Duterte&#39;s remarks came during a televised speech to hundreds of the country&#39;s business elite, during which he said it was necessary to cleanse the streets of drug pushers and rescue the next generation of Filipinos from the scourge of narcotics.

Duterte, 71, won the hearts of millions of Filipinos with his outrageous, at times comical speeches and man-of-the-people style in the run-up to a May election. He won by a huge margin after campaigning almost entirely on promises to wipe out drugs and crime.

Nearly 2,300 people have died in the war on drugs since the campaign started on June 30, according to police, of which 1,566 were drug suspects killed in police operations.

Police had previously said there had been more than 3,600 deaths, but have since concluded that many of that number were homicides and murders unrelated to illegal narcotics.

Opinion polls for Duterte&#39;s first 90 days in office suggest he remains popular, with a Pulse Asia survey on Wednesday showing he had the trust of 86 per cent of 1,200 Filipinos surveyed.

Duterte said on Wednesday he had officially invited a United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions to investigate the drug killings.

Thursday speech was the latest among Duterte&#39;s frequent and furious rebukes of international critics of his drugs war&nbsp;after they expressed concern about the unusually high death toll and circumstances of the drugs killings.

&quot;These fools think (they can do anything) because the Philippines is a small nation,&quot; he said. &quot;Maybe God gave you the money but we have the brains.&quot;

(Reuters)

He called Obama, the European Union, and the United Nations fools and said they would end up humiliated if they investigated his war on drug

Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte called US President Barack Obama, the European Union and United Nations "fools" on Thursday, and warned they would end up humiliated and outsmarted if they accepted an invitation to investigate his war on drugs. Duterte said he was open to an outside probe by Obama, his secretary of state John Kerry, the EU and the UN Commission on Human Rights into alleged extrajudicial killings, but on the condition that after he was questioned, he had the right to be heard. "I'll play with you. I'm very sure they cannot be brighter than me. I will ask five questions that will humiliate you," Duterte said. "Watch out for that, it will be a spectacle." Duterte's remarks came during a televised speech to hundreds of the country's business elite, during which he said it was necessary to cleanse the streets of drug pushers and rescue the next generation of Filipinos from the scourge of narcotics. Duterte, 71, won the hearts of millions of Filipinos with his outrageous, at times comical speeches and man-of-the-people style in the run-up to a May election. He won by a huge margin after campaigning almost entirely on promises to wipe out drugs and crime. Nearly 2,300 people have died in the war on drugs since the campaign started on June 30, according to police, of which 1,566 were drug suspects killed in police operations. Police had previously said there had been more than 3,600 deaths, but have since concluded that many of that number were homicides and murders unrelated to illegal narcotics. Opinion polls for Duterte's first 90 days in office suggest he remains popular, with a Pulse Asia survey on Wednesday showing he had the trust of 86 per cent of 1,200 Filipinos surveyed. Duterte said on Wednesday he had officially invited a United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions to investigate the drug killings. Thursday speech was the latest among Duterte's frequent and furious rebukes of international critics of his drugs war after they expressed concern about the unusually high death toll and circumstances of the drugs killings. "These fools think (they can do anything) because the Philippines is a small nation," he said. "Maybe God gave you the money but we have the brains." (Reuters)

Philippines: President Duterte challenges West to probe drugs war