T

he Philippine president-elect has encouraged the public to help him in his war against crime and urged citizens with guns to shoot and kill drug dealers who would resist arrest and fight back.

Rodrigo Duterte told a huge crowd celebrating his presidential victory late Saturday in the southern city of Davao that Filipinos who would help him in the bloody war against criminality would be rewarded.

The longtime Davao mayor won the May 9 presidential election on a bold promise to end crime and corruption within six months of his presidency. That vow resonated among crime-weary Filipinos though many police officials consider it an impossible feat to accomplish.

Human rights watchdogs have expressed alarm his anti-crime drive may lead to widespread rights violations. (ags)