Duterte defends crime crackdown in national address

Manila

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte vowed big reforms to tackle chronic economic flaws on Monday and defended his pursuit of a deadly anti-narcotics war, saying drugs were drowning his country and human rights were no excuse to shield criminals.

Just a month into his presidency, Mr Duterte used his inaugural State of the Nation Address to warn the public to steer clear of drug use, the scale of which was "staggering and scary" and promised no relenting in his crackdown.