Philippines: President Duterte warns terrorists he can be 'more brutal than Isis'

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a very stern warning to terrorists: steer clear of the country or they will bring out the worse in him. Speaking at the Malacañang Palace in Manila earlier this week, he said that he would never allow the Philippines to be destroyed by terrorism.

In his speech, Duterte, 71, said that the terrorist group did not have any political ideology and does not have "any concept of what God really is."

He added: "You maim people, you kill them. People who refused to have sex with them, they simply burn them. We have seen a barbaric practice and even cutting throats of people in front of the world."

He warned the terror group that they will "bring the worst out of me" and that he would never allow the Philippines to be destroyed by terrorism, even if it means being forced out of office, according to The Washington Post.

"If you can do it, I can do it ten times better than you, definitely. I'll put at stake my honour, my life , and the presidency," he warned the Islamic State (Isis).

In a speech last week in Mindanao's province of Zamboanga, Duterte told soldiers that in three to seven years, Philippines will be plagued with "the Isis disease."

"They are not armed, but they are here for indoctrination. That's what I'm afraid of," the Philippine Inquirer reported.

Duterte, who took over as President with a tough war on drugs crusade, has come under criticism over his backing of the extrajudicial killing of criminals. "Shoot him and I'll give you a medal," is what Duterte has told the public if criminals threaten citizens with weapons.

Duterte's war on drugs has seen more than 700 alleged drug dealers being killed on the streets, with more than 7,600 people arrested in July.