Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines president, has claimed he personally killed crime suspects while serving as the mayor of Davao to set an example to the city’s police force.

Mr Duterte, whose war on drugs has seen thousands of alleged dealers and addicts gunned down in the streets, claimed he used to drive around Davao looking for a “confrontation” so he could “kill.”

"In Davao I used to do it personally… to show to the guys [police] that if I can do it why can't you," he told business leaders during a conference at the presidential palace on Monday.

"And I'd go around in Davao with a motorcycle, with a big bike, and I would just patrol the streets, looking for trouble. I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill.”

Immediately after the conference, the Philippines' foreign secretary rushed to clarify Mr Duterte's remarks, describing them as "hyperbole" that was intended to deter would-be criminals.

But his comments were condemned by Amnesty International, who accused the Philippines leader of handing himself a "licence to kill."