The United Nations human rights commission has urged the Philippines to launch a murder investigation into President Rodrigo Duterte’s claims he killed three people as mayor of Davao City, and into the killings in his war on drugs, which has led to more than 6,000 deaths.

Since July when Duterte assumed the presidency, there had been 6,000 people killed in the government’s war on drugs, about a third died in police anti-narcotics operations and the rest by motorcycle-riding masked men and vigilante groups.

Duterte told a gathering of businessmen last week that as mayor of Davao City he “personally” killed criminals as he prowled the streets.

He later admitted killing three men, who were involved in a kidnapping case, during a police gunfight in late 1980s.

“The Philippines judicial authorities must demonstrate their commitment to upholding the law and their independence from the executive by launching a murder investigation,” said Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, in reference to Duterte’s claims.

“The killing described by President Duterte also violates international law, including the right to life, freedom from violence and force, due process and fair trial, equal protection before the law and innocence until proven guilty,” Zeid said in a statement.

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