Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 1) — President Rodrigo Duterte wants firefighters to bear arms and "help kill the enemy."

The President talked about arming firemen during a speech at the founding anniversary of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), in relation to the recent killing of policemen in Negros Oriental.

"Kayong mga bombero, pagkatapos yung tubig, tao naman yung hanapin ninyo. Patayin niyo yung tubig tapos yung tao. You help in the maintenance of peace and order," added Duterte in yet another controverial remark.

[Translation: Firemen, after you fight the fire you should start looking for people. Turn off the hose and then kill people.]

Human rights groups have critized the acid-tongued Duterte for rhetoric that they say have encouraged state forces to commit rights abuses. The international community has also widely condemned his bloody war on drugs that has left thousands of petty drug suspects dead.

Duterte said firemen's jurisdiction is not just limited to responding to fires.

"You are not limited to just fire. That's a b******* idea. You have to go ahead and help the policeman and the military. You must help and you must help kill the enemy," he said.

The President again floated the idea of creating a group to counter the New People's Army's Sparrow Unit, which he called "mga anghel ng gobyerno (the government's angels)."

Aside from arming firemen, Duterte warned that he will take "drastic action" in response to the violence in the Negros region.

"It will not sit well with people, including you, but it is needed," Duterte said.

He followed this with his usual disclaimer that he does not want to be a dictator, and that he should be shot if he stays in Malacañang past his term.

READ: Duterte will not hesitate to use 'emergency powers' amid Negros killings, Panelo says

Duterte also spent approximately 10 minutes of his speech berating Senator Richard "Dick" Gordon for questioning his penchant for appointing former military officials to government positions.