Philippine Presidential Frontrunner Duterte Says He Will Pardon Himself for Mass Murder

If he becomes president, Duterte said he will also extend pardons to security forces who abuse human rights


Philippine presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte waded into controversy yet again Thursday, telling a group of businesspeople in Manila that he would pardon himself for mass murder if elected.

Duterte made the remarks during an hour and a half-long speech to the Makati Business Club in which he also defended his reputation as a womanizer and made jokes about his genitals, the Philippine Star reported. He referenced his economic strategy — which the crowd had primarily gathered to hear — only tangentially, instead focusing on his core platform of ridding the country of crime.