Duterte accuses Philippine senator probing killings of taking drug money.
| Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a meeting with soldiers at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal in the Philippines August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Erik De Castro |
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday accused a senator heading an inquiry into extra-judicial drug killings of taking bribes from jailed drug lords, which she immediately denied.
The senator, Leila de Lima, who has criticized the surge of killings and called for the Senate investigation, appealed to Duterte in a news conference to "stop this madness".
More than 1,900 people have been killed in Duterte's war on drugs since he came to power seven weeks ago, according to police figures. Police say the toll of about 36 people a day is a result of drug dealers resisting arrest or gang feuds.
Duterte, who won a May election on a promise to wipe out drugs and dealers, last month named about 160 officials, judges, police and soldiers who he said were protecting drug traffickers or selling drugs in their communities.
On Thursday, he turned his anger on De Lima.
"De Lima, you are finished," Duterte told a news conference in Davao City in the south of the country where he used to be mayor and built his reputation as a ruthless crime fighter.
Duterte handed the media a diagram purportedly showing links between officials and politicians and big drug dealers locked up in the country's main prison.
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