Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has said he might follow Russia's step to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Mr Duterte called the Court "useless" and railed against the United States and other Western nations, which have accused him of illegal killings as part of his agressive crackdown on drugs.

"They are useless, those in the International Criminal [Court]. They [Russia] withdrew. I might follow," he said in comments ahead of his departure for Lima to attend an Asia-Pacific summit.

Mr Duterte said that if Russia and China were to create a “new order” then the Philippines would be the first to join it.

He also appeared to blame the United Nations for failing to prevent wars all over the world.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed an order to withdraw his country's signature from the ICC's founding treaty on Wednesday.

He may have been "emboldened" to do so by the election of Donald Trump, the director of the Centre on Conflict, Rights and Justice at SOAS, University of London has said.

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

“The ICC is holding an event now in the Hague, there have been three African withdrawals and on the heels of that we have the election of a US President who is not going to be supportive,” Dr Leslie Vinjamuri told The Independent.

“Russia’s a little bit emboldened by the election of Trump.”

Mr Duterte is seeking a meeting with Mr Putin in Lima this weekend, which comes as he pursues an independent foreign policy aimed at weaning the Philippines off dependence on longtime ally the United States.

The President, known for his frank statements, speculated that Russia's ICC move might be because of its air strikes in Syria.

“What could be the reason? I really would not know,” he said. “Maybe to protect what they are doing in Syria, the incessant bombing and the killing of civilians.”

The Philippines became a member of the ICC in 2011, but last month the Court's chief prosecutor expressed alarm over Mr Duterte's war on drugs and the more than 2,400 people killed.

Rodrigo Duterte says he 'doesn't give a s*** about human rights' as 3,500 killed in war on drugs

Fatou Bensouda said in a statement that the Hague-based tribunal may be able to prosecute the perpetrators of the killings.

Mr Duterte said he was annoyed about the criticism he had received and that “nobody was listening” to his reasons for having the crackdown, including US President Barack Obama.