Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte declared the police and military are at liberty to “kill” whoever violently resists arrest.
Speaking in front of members of the forces in Manila, he said: “Tell your men that, whenever their life is in danger and they are in the actual performance of a duty, [their] duty requires [them] to overcome the resistance of the person [they] are arresting.
“Not only just shouting at him to surrender because if he does not and he resists and it’s a violent [resistance] placing in jeopardy the lives of my policemen and the military.
“You are free to kill the idiots.”
The statement came only two days after a violent protest against Mr Duterte’s “war on drugs” erupted at the funeral of a 17-year-old boy killed by police officers during an anti-drug operation.
Kian Loyd Delos Santos was died on 16 August in Caloocan City, in the outskirts of the capital Manila.
Witnesses at the scene claim the officers dragged the boy into an alley before allegedly shooting him in the head.
Thousands of people joined the funeral procession on 26 August transforming it into one of the biggest anti-Duterte protests yet.
UN special rapporteur Agnès Callamard called out President Duterte on Twitter, calling the officers involved in the Delos Santos case “murderers.”
She wrote: “Yes, Pent Duterte. All unlawful deaths must be investigated. To stop all murderers.”
Mr Delos Santos’ parents, Lorenza and Saldy, attended a meeting with President Duterte on Monday and said they felt “reassured” after talking to him.
Mrs Delos Santos said: “He promised he would not allow those who have committed wrong to go unpunished.”