Philippines president orders police to execute his son if found guilty of drugs crimes

Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte has publicly ordered police to execute his son if he's found guilty of drug smuggling.

Since taking office last year, Duterte has waged a violent war against those who deal in or use drugs, a campaign that has resulted in the death of at least 7,000 civilians and has drawn criticism from a number of human rights groups, international bodies.

His eldest son, Paolo, 42, has been accused of being a member of a Chinese organised crime syndicate and allegedly responsible for overseeing a drug-smuggling and drug lord protection scheme, reports the Daily Mail. 

My orders are to kill you if you are caught, and I will protect the police who kill you, Duterte said he told his son.

Paolo appeared before a senate hearing earlier this month, accused of being involved with the triad gang, an allegations he described as 'baseless' and founded upon 'rumours'.

He was also accused of helping to facilitate the shipment of than a tonne of ice into the country.

Once and for all, I now have the time to deny any and all baseless allegations thrown against me, Paolo told the senators.

In 2016, a retired policeman and former criminal accused Paolo of being the mastermind behind the operation, a claim that was never proven.

During the hearing, he was asked by opposition Senator Antonio Trillane to remove his shirt and display a large tattoo on his back that allegedly proved he was a member of a Chinese faction but Paolo acknowledged he has a tattoo on his back but refused to remove his shirt and show the hearing.

His father was asked about the case during a speech to workers at his palace in Manila Wednesday, where he confirmed he would hold his family to the same standards and would have no problem killing them.

President Duterte says he wants police to carry out normal procedures should his son be found guilty, to remain consistent and 'so the people can't say anything against me'.

That's better… so I can say to people, 'There, you keep talking. That's my son's corpse'.