The Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte took a tough stance on Islamist extremists on Sunday and warned them by stating that the he could be "50 times" more brutal than the terrorists, and even threatened to eat their internal organs.
Duterte has often threatened drug suspects with death, however he escalated his rhetoric to a new level while speaking during the opening of a national sports tournament on Sunday. He reportedly made the remarks in reference to a recent foiled terror attack by Islamist terrorists.
RT reported that several soldiers and civilians, and at least four militants were killed in an operation on Tuesday in the central province of Bohol, to foil a terror attack in the popular tourist destination. Reports state that the militants were attempting to carry out a kidnapping and bombing plot in the region.
Calling the extremists "animals", Duterte ordered the troops to kill fleeing Muslim terrorists who were behind the foiled bombing plot in Bohol. He also threatened to retaliate against the militants who stage beheadings and carry out gruesome attacks.
"If you want me to be an animal, I'm also used to that. We're just the same," Duterte said."I can dish out, go down what you can 50 times over," the Associated Press quoted the Philippines President as saying.
Duterte even said that he would eat the internal organs of the dead terrorists with "salt and vinegar" if they were brought before him. "Give me salt and vinegar and I'll eat his liver," he said.
The Philippines President in December last year had said that he would throw corrupt officers out of helicopters, claiming he had done the same with crime suspects.
A clip of Duterte's speech was posted on a video feed of the president's office, in which he was seen admitting that he had thrown crime suspects out of helicopters. "If you are corrupt, I will fetch you using a helicopter to Manila and I will throw you out. I have done this before, why would I not do it again?," Duterte had said. He, however, later added that he was joking.
Duterte has been embroiled in controversies ever since he took over as the president in June. He has encouraged citizens in Philippines to bring drug peddlers to justice in the country as part of his crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users. According to reports, over 2,800 people have been killed in this crackdown so far.
