Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, says the motivation for his brutal clampdown on drugs comes in part from being sexually abused by a Catholic priest as a child.

The 71-year-old has attracted attention for a tough crackdown on the Filipino drug trade that has seen almost 4,000 people killed by police and vigilante gangs since he took office on 30 June.

Asked about how being abused had influenced him, Mr Duterte told Al Jazeera: “It’s what you get along the way that shapes your character. At that time [it influences] your politics and how you look at the world."

“It blends into something that forms your own values in life”.

The president first spoke about his childhood abuse in December 2015, claiming he was “fondled” by a priest when he was younger. He said the abuse took place during confession.

Since taking office earlier this year Mr Duterte has faced criticism from the international community, human rights groups and the Catholic Church for his brutal war on drugs.

Opponents say the president’s vocal encouragement for killing drug dealers has led to a breakdown of law and order in the country.

But in his latest interview Mr Duterte defended the policy, saying the crackdown was needed because “the sheer number of people contaminated will pull my country down. It will destroy the next generation of Filipinos.”

“You destroy my country, I’ll kill you – it’s a legitimate thing. If you destroy our young children, I will kill you. That is a very correct statement”, he added.

The president said killings of children would be investigated but that clashes between police and gangsters would inevitably cause civilian causalities because “with a policeman with an M16 it’s one burst…brrr…and hits 1,000 people and they die."

“It could not be negligence because he has to save his life. It could not be recklessness because you have to defend yourself.”

He compared the deaths to those of innocent people killed in American-led wars in the Middle East, accusing the international community of hypocrisy on the issue of civilian casualties.

He said: “Just like [when] the United States and the rest of the countries bomb a village, you intend to kill the militants but you kill in the process the children there…Why is it collateral damage to the West and for us, it’s murder?”

Mr Duterte dismissed criticism from the international community and human rights groups, saying he did not “give a sh*t”.

He said: “I do not care about what the human rights guys say. I have a duty to preserve the [next] generation. If it involves human rights, I don’t give a shit.”

“There can be no ramifications if I say 'I will kill you if you destroy my land'. It is a legitimate statement”.

The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Show all 9 1 /9 The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On killing drug addicts “These sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, don’t go into that, even if you’re a policeman, because I will really kill you. If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful” The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Message to China “I will go there on my own with a Jet Ski, bringing along with me a [Phillipino] flag and a pole, and once I disembark, I will plant the flag on the runway and tell the Chinese authorities, ‘Kill me’ ” AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Christmas message to law-breakers “If you do not want to stop, and just continue committing crimes, then this would be your last Merry Christmas” AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On sex life “I was separated from my wife. I’m not impotent. What am I supposed to do? Let this hang forever? When I take Viagra, it stands up” AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On the drugs trade “None of my children are into illegal drugs. But my order is, even if it is a member of my family, ‘kill him'" AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting the Pope “We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the pope. I wanted to call him: ‘Pope, son of a wh**e, go home. Do not visit us again’” AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Joke about rape “I saw her face and I thought, 'What a pity... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first” AFP/Getty The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting Barack Obama "Mr Obama should be respectful and refrain from throwing questions at me about the killings, or son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum" REUTERS The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants "If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you. If you annoy me to the fullest... I will eat you alive. Raw" EPA

Earlier this year, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said Duterte must put a stop to the “wave of extrajudicial executions and killings” and ensure legal process was upheld.

“Claims to fight illicit drug trade do not absolve the government from its international legal obligations and do not shield State actors or others from responsibility for illegal killings,” said Agnes Callamard, the new UN Special Rapporteur on summary executions.